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AN 



ADDRESS 



DELIVERED TO THE FEOrLE OF 



GOSHEN, CONNECT CUT, 



AT THEIR FIRST 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 



September 23, 1830. 



BY REV. GRANT POWERS, A. M. 

OF GOSHEN, CONN. 



HARTFORD. 

PRINTED BY ELIHU GEER, 26^ STATE-STREET, 
18 3 9. 



At a meeting of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands in the 
town of Goshen, holden on the 14th day of February, 1839. Voted, that the 
thanks of the proprietors be presented to Rev. Grant Powers, for his Address 
dehvered at the celebration of the first Centennial Anniversary of the settle- 
ment of this town, on the 28th of September last ; and that a copy be request- 
ed for publication. 

ABRAHAM NORTON, Moderator, 
LEWIS M. NORTON, Clerk. 



Gentlemen, — I have received the gratifying vote of the proprietors, passed 
on the 14th inst., relative to my Centennial Address, and I do assure you that 
any services of mine which may be requisite to further your wishes in regard 
to its publication will be cheerfully rendered. 

Most respectfully yours, 

GRANT POWERS. 

Abraham Norton, Moderator. 
Lewis M. Norton, Clerk. 
Goshen, Feb. 18th, 1839. 



Note. — The Principal authorities, consulted in support of this address, are 
here inserted once for all. Mather's Magnalia ; Trumbull's History of Conn. ; 
Marshall's Life of Washington ; Historical Collections of Conn.; Town Re- 
cords ; Dea. Lewis M. Norton ; and Old men of the town. 



ADDRESS 



America has been denominated the New World, and this 
with much propriety. She was new, relatively, in respect to 
the time of her discovery by Columbus, Five thousand, five 
hundred years nearly, had elapsed from the creation before 
this vast continent held a place in the catalogue of existences 
among civilized men ; and we have no sufficient evidence, per- 
haps, to authorise the conclusion that the inhabitants of her 
sister continent seriously contemplated her existence. She 
was new, because from the time of her discovery, the minds of 
civilized nations in Europe were turned into a different channel 
of thought, and enterprise spread her wings for the far West, 
instead of the East. She was new ; for, until this time, the 
spherical figure of the Earth had not been demonstrated, and 
the sciences of Geography and Astronomy were necessarily 
limited and imperfect : but from this time a new impulse was 
given to these sciences, and navigation and commerce imme- 
diately quit their narrow track by the rock bound coast, and 
bounded away upon the dark expanse of mighty Oceans. She 
was new, because the blessings chartered to civilized man by a 
beneficent Providence, were by this discovery greatly in- 
creased, not only by extending the limits of his habitation, but 
also by adding to his means of subsistence, and to his luxuries, 
both from the soil and from the chase. Again, she was new 
because here was to commence a new order of things. Man, 
by his translation from the old world to the new, was to drop 
the shackles, which ages of ignorance and wickedness had fab- 
ricated and imposed on him, and to test the new principles of 
self-government, and to feel his responsibility to God alone for 



his religious faith. This was indeed an era in the world, espe- 
cially as it relates to civil and religious institutions. And of 
the truth of this, the enlightened and virtuous of both hemis- 
pheres, will become more and more impressed, the farther 
they recede from the point of their separation, and as events 
transpire, both in the old and new world. It is by no means 
strange, then, that the history of that individual whom Provi- 
dence raised up to bless the world by his discoveries,. and the 
subsequent events in Europe which led to the settlement of 
New England by the church of the Uving God, should be read 
with intense interest by every friend to humanity ; by every 
admirer of God's ways. It would be peculiarly gratifying to 
me to take special notice on this occasion of the incipient steps 
that were taken by our Pilgrim Fathers in the settlement of 
New England, and to call on you to adore the wonders of 
God's love and mercy towards his people, as exhibited in his 
calling them out from a furnace of affliction, and in planting 
them in a land of freedom, and by the side of " Sweet Waters." 
But I must forego this pleasure, as time would fail me, and 
limit my remarks to the settlement of this State, and the pro- 
gress of this Colony ; and this I shall do as preliminary to a 
more specific history of this town. A little more than two 
centuries ago, this entire State was a wilderness, an unbroken 
forest, with the exception of limited prairies on dry soils and 
bottom-lands, the result of annual fires kindled by the tenants 
of these hills and vallies. Every species of forest tree, com- 
mon to other states in New England, here grew in great per- 
fection, and the butternut, button-wood, sassafras and white- 
wood trees, exceeded, it is thought, in proportional number, 
and in magnitude, the same species of the North and East. 
Wild fruits of all kinds that are indigenous to this section of 
our country, were produced in great abundance, and animals 
of the land, of the water, and of the air, were proportionally 
numerous. And so were the men of fierce countenance and 
of idomitable spirits. Some have estimated their number to 
have been twenty thousand, and their warriors four thousand, 
a greater number, it is presumed, than could have been found 



on an area of equal extent in any other part of New England. 
Thus had things remained for unknown ages, nor had a single 
adventurer from the old world discovered the channel of the 
long and beautiful Connecticut, even when Plymouth and 
Massachusetts Colonies had attained to a good degree, and 
Manhadoes or New York was rising to some distinction. 

But in 1631, eleven years after the settlement of Plymouth, 
Wah-quimaceet, a Sachem of the Connecticut valley, came to 
the Plymouth colony, and thence he went to Boston, soliciting 
the governors of these colonies, to make settlements in the 
Connecticut valley, promising as an inducement, to supply the 
colonies with corn, annually, and he would make them a pres- 
ent of "eighty beaver-skins." The governor of Massachusetts 
declined the proffer, but Mr. Winslow, the governor of Ply- 
mouth, came on in a ship, discovered the river and the adja- 
cent parts, and learned the true cause of the Sachem's 
solicitude for an English settlement in the valley. He was 
expecting an invasion from the terrible Pequots, at New Lon- 
don, and he thought he might find his safety from an English 
settlement in his territory. The next year, 1632, the people 
of Plymouth made still further discoveries, and fixed a spot 
for a trading-house ; and this was in Windsor, a little below the 
entrance of the Farmington river into the Connecticut. In 
1633, John Oldham, of Dorchester, and three others in com- 
pany with him, came through the wilderness to Connecticut, 
the first Europeans who ever performed this tour. They 
were hailed by the Sachem with joy, and received a present 
in beaver. Oldham found Indian hemp growing on the mead- 
ows spontaneously, and in great abundance, and on trial, 
found it to be superior to the hemp of European growth. 
The same year, William Holmes of Plymouth, prepared a frame 
for a trading-house, at Windsor, and putting it on board a 
vessel, with materials for covering it, sailed for the Comiecti- 
cut river, but did not arrive till September. In the mean 
time, as early as June of that year, the Dutch from New York 
entered the Connecticut river, purchased of a Pequot captain, 
twenty acres of land in Hartford, built a fort, and mounted 



6 

two pieces of cannon to command the river. They claimed 
Connecticut on the ground of prior discovery, and never 
w^holly relinquished their claim until 1664. When Holmes 
appeared in the river, the Dutch stood by their cannon, for- 
bade his proceeding, and commanded him to strike his colors, 
uttering the most vehement threats, that they would sink him 
if he did not obey. Holmes, in true English blood, replied that 
"he had a commission from the Governor of Plymouth to pro- 
ceed up the river, and he should do so" — keeping his sails ex- 
panded to the breeze, and leaving his antagonists to their own 
vauntings. The great object sought by these rival Colonies, 
was exclusive trade with the Indians, which was at this time 
exceedingly lucrative. The Dutch purchased of them ten thou- 
sand beavers annually, and the Massachusetts and Plymouth 
Colonies sometimes freighted ships to England ; the estimated 
value of furs amounting to a thousand pounds sterling, to a 
single ship. Holmes proceeded to Windsor, erected the house, 
covered it, fortified it, and leaving men for a garrison during 
the winter, returned to Plymouth in October. This was the 
first house ever erected in this State. In 1634, a few men 
came on from Watertow^n in Massachusetts, and built them 
huts at Wethersfield, and this is the oldest town in the State. 
In 1635, a number of men from Dorchester came to Windsor, 
built them log houses, and prepared to bring on their families. 
Men from Watertown did so likewise at Wethersfield. In the 
fall of this year, these men returned to Massachusetts for their 
families, and on the 1 5th of October, about sixty men, women, 
and children, with horses, cattle, and swine, commenced their 
journey through the wilderness. Says Dr. Trumbull — " after 
a tedious journey through sv^^amps, and rivers, over mountains, 
and rough ground, which were passed with great difficulty 
and fatigue, they arrived at the places of their destination."* 
But they consumed so much time on their journey, and the 
winter setting in unusually early, they were unable to trans- 
port more than a part of their cattle across the river that 

* Deacon Lewis M. Norton and his wife, of this town, are each of the fifth 
generation on the Maternal side, from one of these early adventurers — John 
Mills, from Windsor, (England.) 



season; Connecticut river being frozen over by the 15th of 
November. These emigrants had put their provisions for the 
winter, and their household furniture, on board vessels at Bos- 
ton, w^hich were to sail round and meet them on the river ; 
but some of these were shipwrecked in the Sound, and those 
wliich outrode the tempest, could not ascend the river, by rea- 
son of the ice, and left the Pilgrims in a forlorn condition. By 
the first of December, provisions generally failed, and death 
stared them all in the face. Thirteen men set out to retrace 
their way to Boston, and after ten days' march, twelve arrived 
there ; one fell through the ice in passing a river, and was 
drowned. Seventy men, women, and children, left Windsor, 
and Wethersfield, and travelled in dead winter from fifty to 
sixty miles to the mouth of the river, to find their provisions ; 
but not finding them, they entered on board a vessel l>Tng 
there, and sailed for Boston, where they arrived in a few days. 
Those who -remained at Windsor and Wethersfield, subsisted 
on acrons, and grains. But many of their cattle perished, al- 
though that part of them, that were left on the east side of the 
river, and had no human aid, were in better condition in the 
spring, than the others. But notwithstanding these dangers 
and hardships experienced by those who first attempted the 
settlement of this Colony, those who had returned to Massa- 
chusetts during the winter, and others who had meditated a 
removal thither, resolved on transplanting themselves, as soon 
as their cattle could subsist on the buds and leaves of the forest, 
during their journey. Accordingly, about the first of June, 
1636, the Rev. Mr. Hooker, and Mr. Stone his colleague, and 
about a hmidred men, women and children, and a hundred 
and sixty head of cattle, took their leave of NewtoAvn, (now 
Cambridge,) and travelled over the same ground, which the 
pioneers had travelled the year before, subsisting principally 
on the milk of their Idne. Those of this company, who had 
not already placed their families at Windsor or Wethersfield, 
located themselves at Hartford ; and thus in the space of little 
more .than two years, the three towns, Wethersfield, Windsor, 
and Hartford, became permanently settled. But they had 



yet to experience great trials. In less than one year they 
were compelled to declare war against the Pequots, a power- 
ful tribe of Indians, inhabiting the present district of New Lon- 
don and Groton, a tribe which had subjugated nearly all the 
tribes upon the Connecticut river, and were determined to ex- 
terminate the English as fast as they came into the pleasant 
valley. They had already massacred about thirty persons, 
putting some to the most dreadful tortures. Accordingly, in 
May, 1637, these three towns, Wethersfield, Hartford, and 
Windsor, relying upon Massachusetts for aid, declared war 
against the Pequots ; and in ten days, ninety men had embarked 
for Pequot harbor, and in sixteen days from their embarkation, 
six hundred Pequots were slain, their fort destroyed, and the 
remnant oftheir nation were fljing in every direction ; and this 
without the assistance of a single man from Massachusetts, or 
Plymouth, and while the Mohegans, their Indian allies, stood 
aghast at the instant annihilation of a tribe, which they had 
long considered invincible! It may be seriously doubted, 
whether the annals of history record a campaign so brief, so 
disproportional in number with the enemy to be encountered, 
and yet a result so successful ! It not only annihilated this 
potent enemy, but it spread terror at the English name in other 
tribes, and secured a peace, with slight interruptions, for 
nearly forty years. But these pioneers in the wilderness were 
men of whole hearts ; they were lions ! They shrunk not at 
danger, Or fatigue, and when stmig to the quick by such hor- 
rid butcheries upon the bodies of their families and friends, and 
when called to act in defence oftheir lives, and of all that was 
dear to them on earth, they did not strike as those who beat 
the air. They did not war for amusement ; they did not wear 
an epaulette for honor, or bear arms for emolument, but for 
life and liberty ! And whatever we may think of the horrid 
nature of war in general, and even the picture of it is revolting 
to every principle of humanity, I see not how our Fathers 
could have done otherwise, and preserved their own lives and 
the lives of their families. Treaties they had made, and they 
were all violated. They came here at the solicitation of the 



9 

original owners of the soil. They gave a fair equivalent for 
every foot of soil they occupied, and had done what they could 
to bless the Indians. They had prayed, and labored for the 
salvation of these heathen ; they had prayed to be delivered 
from their murderous tomahawks ; and were they to sit and 
see their families immolated, and to feel their murderous blow 
upon their own heads 1 Happy thought ! The Lord is the 
judge between them and the slain ! 

It is from this time we date the commencement of the pros- 
perity of this Colony. The people being released from the 
horrors of war, applied all their energies to agriculture, and 
soon the wilderness became a fruitful field. In 1638, New 
Haven Colony was planted, and they extended their purchases 
and settlements east and west with great rapidity. It was 
the same with the Connecticut Colony at Hartford, and vicin- 
it}^, and in 1643, all the colonies in New England, entered into a 
mutual confederation, offensive and defensive, for future aid 
and strength. In 1665, Connecticut and New Haven colo- 
nies, which had to this time been separate, and independent of 
each other, now became united. At this period, twenty-nine 
years from the settlement of the Connecticut Colony, and 
twenty-seven from that of New Haven, these Colonies united, 
consisted of 1700 families, and enjoyed the labors of twenty 
ministers, giving to each minister eighty-five families. 

This will show that they were not unmindful of the advan- 
tages of a Gospel ministry, and that they were williing to sup- 
port it, amid all their accumulated burdens, arising out of their 
peculiar circumstances. It was at this time. Commissioners 
arrived at Boston from the crown of England, making demands 
precisely of the same nature, with those which one hundred 
years afterwards, produced the war of the revolution, and they 
were equally resisted in the first instance, as in the second. In 
1675, the ever memorable war with Phillip commenced, which 
involved the dearest interests of Connecticut, as well as those 
of all the other Colonies in New England. This celebrated chief 
had his principal seat at Mount Hope, in the eastern part of the 
town of Bristol, in Rhode Island, and he had the temerity to 
2 



10 

conspire ths destruction of all the Colonies in New England, 
For this purpose, he drew into his schemes all the principal chiefs 
and tribes in the region, and with all possible secrecy , proceeded 
to execute his diabolical \vork. Swanzey, a frontier town of 
Plymouth Colony, was the first to experience the vengeance 
of the Indians. This electrified each Colony, and Connecticut 
sent troops immediately to Stonington, for the defence of that, 
and the neighboring towns. But notwithstanding all that the 
colonies could do this year, the Indians triumphed. Brook- 
field, Hadley, Deerfield, Northfield, and Springfield, were all 
attacked. Houses and barns were bunied, cattle killed, grain 
destroyed, and many of the inhabitants were either massacred, 
or carried into a terrible captivity. Connecticut raised sixty 
dragoons in each county, for the defence of the Colonies : all 
towns were put in the best state to repel an attack, and in No- 
vember, they sent three hundred of their own men, and a 
hundred and fifty Mohegans to cooperate with troops fioni 
Massachusetts, and Plymouth against the Narragansetts. This 
expedition was successful in destroying the Narragansett fort, 
and dispersing the Indians, but it was a dear bought victory ! 
Of the 300 regular troops from Connecticut, eighty were either 
killed or wounded. But in the summer of 1670, Philip himself 
fell in battle, and with him expired the hope of the Indians, and 
peace was the result. In this war it is estirtiated, that every 
eleventh English soldier in New England fell ; every eleventh 
house was burned, and a great proportion of the inhabitants 
were clad in deep mourning. But before the Colonies had 
time to recover from this terrible calamity, another of equal 
magnitude threatened them from another quarter. Upon the 
a.ccession of James II. to the throne of England, this infamous 
Prince resolved on vacating all the charters of these Colonies, 
and instituting a tyrannical government over them ; and in 
pursuance of this object, Sir Edmund Andross was appointed 
Governor of all New England, who arrived at Boston, Dec. 
19, 1686. This Andross was a modern Nero, and employed 
all his powers to despoil the Colonies, and to enrich himself. 
He came to Hartford in December, 1687, demanded the Char- 



11 

ler, and took upon himself the government. This was the time 
that the old oak at Hartford became the Ark for the chartered 
rights of this Colony, wherein they reposed securely for the 
space of nineteen months, and then upon a change of Sove- 
reigns in England, were again brought forth for the peace and 
prosperity of the Colony. It was in anticipation of this visit 
of Sir Edmund Andross, that the government of this Colony, 
with a view to save their unappropriated lands, from the un- 
lawful grasp of this rapacious Governor, did, Jan. 26th, 1686, 
grant to the towns of Hartford and Wmdsor, " those lands on 
the North of Woodbury, and Mattakuck*, and on the west of 
Farmington and Simsbury, to the Massachusetts line north ; 
to rmi west to Housatonick, or Stratford river, provided it be 
not, or part of it, formerly granted to any particular person, 
to make a plantation, or village," It was perfectly understood 
at the time of this grant, that it was no bona-fide conveyance 
to these towns, for they advanced not a shilHng for it, nor did 
they claim it for special services rendered, yet when the evils 
which then threatened the Colony had passed aw^ay, and the 
government was desirous of disposing of those lands, for the 
benefit of the Colony ; the towns of Hartford and Windsor 
set up their claim, and insisted that the grant to them in 1686 
was a bona-fide transaction, and refused to yield to any acts of 
the Assembly, in regard to the sale of the land. Their claim 
was extensive, comprehending Kent, Litchfield, Harwinton, 
New Hartford, Torrington, Goshen, Cornwall, Salisbury, Ca- 
naan, Norfolk, Winchester, Colebrook, Barkhamsted, and 
Hartland, How Salisbury should have been included in this 
claim, I am unable to learn, for the grant of 1686 was bounded 
west by the Housatonick. But both parties proceeded to take 
possession of the territory in dispute. In 1718 the Assembly 
sold a tract of country, then called by the Indians Bantam, but 
from the incorporation of the town in 1724, the same has 
borne the name of Litchfield. Settlements commenced in this 
town in 1720. In 1722, individuals of Hartford and Windsor 
came on and laid out the townsliip, north of Litchfield, then 

* Waterbury- 



12 

called Neiv Bantam, but which has borne the name of Goshen, 
from an act of the Assembly, in 1737. These individuals 
claimed their right under the towns of Hartford and Windsor, 
which brought on a violent conflict, between the Colony and 
these towns. In October of 1722, while the Assembly were 
in session at Hartford, some of the trespassers were arrested, 
and imprisoned at Hartford, but a mob was raised, the jail 
broken open, and the delinquents were set at liberty ; and so 
violent was the opposition of these towns to the acts of the 
Assembly, that the civil authority was unable to execute the 
laws of the land. Finally, the Assembly, feeling the disastrous 
consequenses of a protracted warfare of this nature, did in the 
autumn of 1724 appoint a Committee to investigate all the 
claims, and report thereon, that the difficulty might be amicably 
settled. This Committee spent nearly two years in the inves- 
tigation, and then reported, that a division of this territory 
be made, giving one half to the towns of Hartford and Wind- 
sor, and one half to the Colony, Hartford and Windsor 
should have the Eastern division, and the Colony the Western. 
In May, 1726, the Assembly adopted substantially the report 
of the Committee, and subsequently secured to these towns, 
Hartford and Windsor, by patent, all the disputed lands East 
of Litchfield, Goshen, and Norfolk, and retained the Western 
section, viz. Goshen, Norfolk, Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, and 
Salisbury ; and thus an affair was adjusted, which had re- 
tarded the settlement of these towns, and threatened the 
whole Colony with disastrous consequences. At the October 
. Session of the Assembly in 1726, a grant of 300 acres of land 
in this town, was made to James Wads worth, Esq., of Durham, 
John Hall, Esq. of Walhngf^rd, and Hezekiah Brainard, Esq. 
of Haddam. What the consideration was for this grant, does 
not appear : probably it was for services rendered the Colony. 
This survey was made by John Hitchcock, April 28, 1731. 
The North-west corner of this special grant was east of the 
road opposite the brick house of Capt. Jonathan Wadhams, 
and south of the School house. The west line of the grant, 
running South 300 rods, intersected the North line of Litchfield 



13 

tliirteen rods West of the North and South road, that passes 
the house of Harvey Brooks, thence East on Litchfield line 160 
rods. Thence North 300 rods, and then West 160 rods to 
the North-west bound, already described, near Capt. Wadhams. 
This grant has always borne the appellation " the 'Squires 
Farm," because the three Gentlemen to whom the grant was 
made, all had the title Esquire attached to their names respec- 
tively. It is said that the house owned, and occupied, by the 
widow, and heir of the late Isaac Wadhams, stands in the 
central part of the 'Squires Fra-m. But at the time of this 
survey, the town had not been laid out by government, and 
was denominated Western Lands or New Bantam, the assem- 
bly not regarding at all the lajdng out of the town by Hart- 
ford, and Windsor, in 1722. But at their session in May, 1731, 
they enacted that their Western lands should be laid out into 
five townships, and appointed their Committee to perform this 
business. The report of this Committee as it respects this 
town, bears date Oct. 15th, 1731, describing the limits of the 
same, making the South line four miles and 196 rods. The 
West line, nine miles and 60 rods. The North line four 
miles and 86 rods — and the East line, eight miles, and 146 rods; 
showmg that the South line is ten rods longer than the North 
line, and the West line 234 rods longer than the East line. 
Soon after these towns were laid out, the Trustees of Yale 
College, applied to the assembly for a grant of land in aid of 
this institution, and in 1732 they made a grant of 1500 acres to 
the Trustees, 300 acres in each of the five towns so recently 
laid out, and in January, 1737 the College Farm so called in 
this town, was surveyed and its boundaries established. The 
dwelling houses of Messrs. Asa^Leverett, and Cephas Ives, 
stand upon this grant, and also the house at the turnpike gate 
leading to Cornwall. On the 13th of Oct. 1737, the assembly 
enacted, that the township called Goshen, should be divided 
into fifty-three rights, exclusive of former grants, referrmg to 
the 'Squires Farm, and College. Two of the 53 rights were 
to be appropriated to the Ministry. One of them to be the 
property of the first settled minister, and the other to remain 



14 

for the support of the Ministry in all after time. And a third 
right was to be for the support of Schools. Fifty rights 
would remain for the Proprietors of said township. The as- 
sembly then resolved that this tov/nsh'p should be sold in so 
many rights, at public auction at the Court House in New Ha- 
ven, to the highest bidder,, commencing on the first Tuesday in 
December next (1737), and to be continued by adjournment 
until all the rights v/ere sold. The conditions required of each 
proprietor were, that he or his agent should within two years 
from the date of his purchase, enter upon his premises build and 
finish a house thereon, no less than eighteen feet square, and 
seven feet between sill and plate 'clear, subdue, and fence 
six acres of said land, and continue to dwell thereon for the 
space of three successive years (unless prevented by death or 
unavoidable Providence) commencing after the expiration of 
the two years in which the specified conditions were to be 
performed ; and furthermore, he must perform all orders, and 
duties, and pay all taxes granted. If these conditions were 
performed, then his deed was valid ; but if any part of the 
conditions was omitted (extraordinaries excepted) his title was 
void, and of no effect. 

It seems that during the winter, spring and summer of 1738, 
the rights were all or nearly all disposed of and that a meeting 
of the Proprietors was called at the house of Capt. John Buel 
in Litchfield, on the 27th of September, 1738. This Capt. John 
Buel, or Dea. Buel, as he is generally called was one of the 
first settlers of the town of Litchfield, and deserves special 
notice in this place, on account of the interest he took in the 
settlement of this town, and the interest his descendants have 
held in it to this day. He with his wife Mary came from Leb- 
anon in this state, to Litchfield in 1720, and lived on Town Hill, 
North side of West street, and seventy rods West of the 
County Jail. He was distinguished for his piety and active be- 
nevolence. A brief anecdote of him will tell the whole story. 
In 1740 or 41, there came a man from Cornwall in the depth 
of winter to purchase some grain for himself and family, who 
were in great need. He was directed to the house of Deacon 



15 

Buel as being the man most likely 'to have grain to sell. The 
man called at the house and inquired if Deacon Buel lived 
there, and whether he could purchase a little grain for his fam- 
ily ? Deacon Buel asked him if he had money to purchase the 
grain ? He replied that he had some. " Well," said the Dea- 
con, " I can show you where you can procure it." Going with 
the stranger to the door, he pointed out to him a certain house, 
and said, " There lives a man who will let you have the grain 
for your money. I have some grain to spare, but I must keep 
it for those who have no money !" We are forcibly impressed 
with the scripture truth, The memory of the just is blessed. 
Deacon Buel departed this life April 9th, 1746, aged 75 years. 
His wife survived 22 years, and the following is inscribed on 
her tomb stone, " Here lies the body of Mrs. Mary, wife of 
Dea. John Buel, Esq, She died Nov. 4, 1768, aged 90 ; having 
had 13 Children, 101 Grand-children, 247 Great-grand-chil- 
dren, 22 Great-great-grand-children ; total 410. Three hun- 
dred and thirty-six survived her." 

Nearly all, if not all who bear the name of Buel, in Litch- 
field and Goshen are the descendants of this same Dea. John 
Buel. We have his Grandson with us to day, Capt. Jonathan 
Buel, aged 85. 

On the 27th of Sept. 1738, the proprietors of this town, as- 
sembled at the house of Dea. John Buel, Litchfield, agreeably 
to appointment. Capt, Joseph Bird, of Litchfield, was chosen 
clerk, and Deacon John Buel was chosen Moderator. After 
being fully organized they adjourned to meet at the same place 
at 8 o'clock the next morning, one hundred years ago this 
morning. Here let us pause for a moment's reflection. How 
eventful were the doings of this meeting ! Upon the acts 
of this body were suspended the settlement of this town, the 
m.anner of its settlement, and much of its prosperity to the 
present time. Nor will our descendants cease to be influenced 
by these incipient steps for ages to come, and may not to the 
end of time. 

* Whether our Fathers were sensible of the importance of 
their proceedings to unborn generations or not, yet we may 



16 

learn that we never act for ourselves exclusively, but that oth- 
ers are to be aftected for good or for evil, by our influences to the 
latest generation, and probably to eternity ! 

The adjournment of this meeting on the 27th to the 28th 
of the month, was doubtless that they might arrange matters 
so as to transact business with greater despatch the next day. 
We understand, that each Proprietor of one right in the town, 
owned one fifty-third part of the town, exclusive of the 
'Squires Farm, and College Farm. But no man's right was 
yet located. And that each might have as fair a chance as 
possible in his location, they agreed that but one hundred acres 
to each right, should be located at that time, and that no one 
should select more that fifty acres, until all the others had se- 
lected their fifty acres upon their respective rights. The meth- 
od adopted to locate each man's fifty acres v.^as this : — There 
were fifty-three slips of paper cut and marked from No. 1, to 
53. These papers were put into a hat or box, and the Pro- 
prietors drew out one paper each, and according to the number 
the individual drew so he stood in the choice of his first fifty 
acres. The man who drew No. 1, had a right to select his 
fifty acres in any part of the town, not encroaching upon the 
two Farms specified. He who drew No. 2, held the next 
choice, and so on to fifty-three, an individual being designated 
to draw for the Ministerial and School rights. But in the 
choice of the second fifty acre lots to each individual Proprietor, 
there was no drawing for a choice ; for it was agreed, that he 
who had the last choice in the first division, should have the 
first choice in the second division ; so that he who had the first 
choice in the first division had the last choice in the second di- 
vision. These preliminary steps being taken, the Proprietors 
met on the 28th, appointed a committee for laying out the lots 
when chosen, and drew for their choice of lots. Aaron Cook 
drew No. 1, and had the first choice. Daniel Richards the 
fifty-third. The meeting was then adjourned to the first 
Wednesday of December next, at 8 o'clock, A. M., to meet at 
the house of Joseph Bird in Litchfield, and the Proprietors 
hastened to Goshen, each to search out, and locate his future 



17 

home, and where he should repose his mortal part. This is 
the day we celebrate at the distance of one entire century 
from those hardy adventurers. From this period we date the 
regular settlement of this town ; and whatever degree of in- 
terest we may feel on this occasion, we may rest assured our 
venerated Fathers felt far more. They had to select for them- 
selves, and for theirs. Their personal interest and comfort, 
were in a good degree involved in their choice. The labor of 
converting a wilderness into a fruitful field, and into smooth 
and green pastures was theirs. Far distant was the day in 
their vision, when the Sun with unobstructed rays, and mel- 
lowing influences, should look down upon their soil as at this 
day. For a long period, they could hope for the necessaries of 
life only, with few conveniences and no luxuries, unless they 
were derived from the chase ! They knew the toil of felling 
the towering trees of the forest, of making roads, building 
bridges, erecting mills, fences, habitations, barns, school houses, 
and a house for worship ; and it will appear in the sequel that 
these first settlers contemplated all these things from the com- 
mencement of their enterprise. Now, notwithstanding this 
was a peculiar race of men, prepared by the Providence of 
God for bold and arduous undertakings, yet, must they not 
have felt an interest, and a solicitude while entering this forest 
for the first time, which we do not and cannot feel ? Yet they 
were sustained and directed, and by the strength of their arms, 
and the perseverance of their labors, we their descendants are 
placed in the lap of ease and plenty. I have stated that Aaron 
Cook drew No. 1, and had the first choice in the first division 
of lots. He chose, and we honor his choice, the south part of 
Town Hill, whereon now stand the brick house of the late Col. 
Moses Lyman, and the house of his son, Samuel Lyman. Daniel 
Richards who was last in choice in this division, chose the land 
lying South Yi?i's,ioiNarshapogge Pond, now injudiciously call- 
ed West Side Pond, and it embraced the land whereon now 
stands the three story house, known by the name Hudson house. 
I say this pond is injudiciously called West Side Pond, because 
it is entered in all ancient conveyances by its Indian name 
3 



18 

ISlarshapogge, and because it is much more definite in its Indian 
name than in its present name ; for who that was not well ac- 
quainted with the use of terms here could decide which pond 
was meant by the tenn 'West Side Pond, whether it was this 
pond, or the one a little South of it ? Beside, the Indian name 
is a much more dignified name ; and as it was prior to the one*. 
now in common use, by thousands of years probably, it ought 
to bo retained as a memorial of a mighty race that have passed 
away to make room foi the more civilized, but more effeminate 
European ! And what is said of this pond, applies with equal 
force to her sister a little South, which was called in the Indian 
tongue MarsJiapogge, but is now called Tyler Pond. Who for 
a mouKnt can balance m his judgment in regard to the euphony 
of these two names ? Not one. We say then let them bare 
their original names, and the names they hold in our i^ecords, 
and not attempt to filch from the poor Indian, the right which 
God and nature gave him to imprint the seal of his own lan- 
guage upon those everlasting hills, lakes, ponds and streams \ 
Pardon me this digression, and I will proceed. I have said 
this day, one hundred years, tliis town was settled by its pro- 
prietors, but these were not the first Enghsh inliabitants with- 
in this town. I have already spoken of the 'Squires Farm, and 
given its boundaries at the South easterly pai't of the town, ly- 
ing on Litchfield line. It is upon record that in February, 
1734, James Wads worth, Esq. sold his one third part of the 
'Squires Farm, to Ebcnezer Luke and Isaac Hill, all of Walling- 
ford of this state ; that in Feb. 173G, there v/as a division of 
the whole farm between the owners, and that the Southern 
third part fell to the share of said Hill. It appears, also, that 
in 1737, Ebenezer Hill came on to the West part of this South 
third of the farm, and built him a sinall framed house on the 
ground now improved for a barn-yard by Harvey Brooks. 
The house stood East of the road as it then inin, but West of 
where it now inins. This same season, 1737, Benjamin Fris- 
bie bought of Luke Hill his th'rd of the one hundred acres, di- 
vided between the said Hills, and built him a house a little 
North of the house of Ebenezer Hill, on the same side of the 



19 

road. These two houses might have accommodated some few 
of the proprietors of the town, while attending to the location 
and survey of their respective lots ; but by far the greater por- 
tion must have reposed at night on the lap of indulgent nature, 
and slept under the protecting wing of high Heaven. 

^ I will here remark that the first English child born in this 
town was called Billious Hill, son of Isaac Hill, one of the orig- 
inal proprietors. He was born at the house of Ebcnezer Hill, 
by Harvey Brooks', as already described. 

I shall not attempt to describe the location and survey of 
each lot successively as the business proceeded ; but shall ad- 
vert to the fact that the proprietors held two meetings more 
at Litchfield before they were convened at Goshen, at which 
meetings they proceeded to make further divisions of land upon 
the same plan that was adopted at the first meeting. The 
first proprietor's meeting at Goshen was on the 13th of May, 
1740, at the house of Joseph Hickock, on East street, where 
Nathaniel Stanley afterwards lived. And here we may take 
our leave of the meetings of the proprietors as distinct meet- 
ings from the town, although they have held occasional meet- 
ings in their corporate capacity to the present time. 

The first town meeting ever held in this town was on Dec. 
6th, 1739. John Beach was chosen Moderatoi', and Samuel 
Pettibone, Tov/n Clerk. John Beach, Samuel Pettibone, Na- 
thaniel Baldwin, Samuel Towner and Benajah Williams were 
chosen Selectmen. Moses Lyman was chosen Collector and 
Treasurer. The place of this meeting not being specified, it is 
supposed that it was held at their meeting-house, standing a lit- 
tle East of North from the dwelling-house of Erastus Lyman, 
Esq., and four or five rods South East of the yellow building, 
denominated Mechanic's Hall, the spot we have now visited in 
solemn and grateful procession- This first meeting-house was 
built of rude materials. The butt end of a large white ash tree 
felled, composed the principal part of the wall on one side, and 
piled logs, with a covering of bark, completed the sanctuary ! 
And does this appear small in our view, almost provoking a 
smile ? It was great in the sight of God ! It was the best they 



20 

could do, and more than many of them enjoyed for their own 
shelter. It was the expression of their hearts and an earnest 
of what they would do in time to come ! It was saying that 
the God of the Pilgrims was their God, and should be the God 
of Goshen as far as it might depend on them. I would that 
that house now stood!" How often would we steal a solitary 
walk thither, and in the holy stillness of evening, go round her 
enclosures, think of the generation that congregated there, their 
fervent devotions, their prayers for covenanted mercies upon 
their posterity, and their present rest on high 1 And while 
thus musing, would not the fire kindle in our own hearts, and 
should we not praise God that our Fathers loved him, and gave 
us this precious example of dedicating to him the first fruits of 
their hearts and of their hands ! 

But notwithstanding our Fathers had thus early a house for 
God, they did not always improve it. It was of course much 
open between logs, and there were no stoves. It was, there- 
fore, not filled for worship in the severity of winter. Besides, 
there were no roads for the weak and tender of their congre- 
gation to travel in from different sections of the town. They 
therefore adopted the plan of carrying the Gospel to the people 
by appointing the public worship of God in different parts of 
the town ; and at this first tov^^n meetmg they passed a vote 
that the " Selectmen should ascertain the places for holding the 
meetings for the public worship of God." At a town meeting, 
Jan. 11, 1740, it Avas voted to hire a minister on probation, 
and that Nathaniel Baldwin, Samuel Towner, and Samuel 
Pettibone be a committee to go after a minister, with full power 
to agree with him. It seems that this committee were suc- 
cessful in obtaining Mr. Stephen Heaton, of New-Haven, to be 
their candidate ; for in April, 1740, the town voted him a call 
to settle with them in the Gospel ministry, and specified the 
settlement and salary they would give him. The call was not 
immediately accepted, and in September following, it was re- 
newed to him, with some addition to the former proposed sala- 
ry. This call was accepted, and Mr. Heaton, was ordained 
Nov. 1 740, at the house of Capt. John Beach, on East street, 



21 

East side of the road opposite to the present dwelling house 
of Eber Bailey. 

The town at their meetings preparatory to the settlement of 
Mr. Heaton had voted that it was necessary to build a meeting 
house, and Nathaniel Baldwin was appointed to solicit the 
General Assembly for a Committee to be appointed to decide 
on the spot where the New Meeting house should stand. It 
appears further, from the Records, that the General Assembly 
agreeably to the request of the Petitioners, did appoint a 
Committee of three from the town of Hartford to fix on the 
site for a Meeting house, and that the said Committee, did come 
out and set the stake where the house should stand, sometime 
in the summer of 1740, and that after some delay, and embar- 
rassments, the second meeting house in the town was raised, 
and covered in the year 1744. It was a house 46 by 34 feet, 
and 20 feet between sill and plate. It had two galleries, one 
above the other, and when it was finished, was painted yellow. 
It stood a little North west of this house, and a little South of 
the house that was removed in 1832, the South side of the 
third Meeting house, coming within 4 feet of the North side of 
the second house. There are some two or three individuals 
present who remember this second house which was removed 
in 1770. 

I will now for the satisfaction of the present generation, 
and with a view to impress us all with the truth, that the 
fashion of this loorld passeth away, present you this town as 
it was in 1 745. I am indebted for these statistics mainly to 
Deacon Lew is M. Norton of this place, whose unwearied and 
persevering effort in this cause for years entitles him to the 
lasting gratitude of his town's men and to a more substantial 
reward. We will return then to the South part of the town, 
where we have already been in the history, and commence 
with Capt. Jonathan Buel, son of Dea. John Buel of Litch- 
field, and Father of Capt. Jonathan Buel now of this town. 
His house stood upon the line between Litchfield, and Goshen, 
on the West side of the North and South road, as it now runs. 
In the house lately owned, and occupied by Elias Buel, a little 



22 

South of Harvey Brooks, on the East side of the road, lived 
Ebenezer Hill, Jun., son of the Ebenezer Hill whose house we 
have already located in Mr, Brooks' barn yard. This house of 
Ebenezer Hill, Jan., lately occupied by Elias Buel, was built in 
the summer of 1741, and is the oldest house in the town. This 
Hill, and Capt. Jonathan Buel kept tavern alternately for a 
number of years. Buel would keep two years, and then Hill 
two, for the accommodation of those who were going to and 
from " Western lands." About half way between the house of 
Ebenezer Hill, Jun., and the house lately occupied by Elisha 
Buel, now by Watts Brooks, stood the house of Asa Hill, an- 
other son of Ebenezer Hill, first mentioned. A little North of 
the present house of Watts Brooks, near the flat, stood the 
house of Benjamin Frishie, already described as the second 
house, built in 1737, on the 'Squires Farm. A Uttle North 
of Frisbie's house as we ascend the hill, and precisely where 
stands the house of Joseph Beardsley, lived John Dibble, with 
a numerous family from Wallingford. Afterwards John Dibble, 
Jan., kept a store in the house for several years, and then built 
him a store, about ten rods South of his house, near the house 
of Frisbie, and traded there. It was called the red store, because 
jt was painted red. Proceeding North until we come to within 
four rods South-east of the present brick house of Samuel Ives, 
and there lived Noah Wadhams, from Middletown, the progeni- 
tor of all those, who have ever lived in Goshen, bearing the name 
of Wadhams. He was prosperous in business, and reared a 
numerous family. About 28 rods North of Noah Wadhams, 
lived, on the West side of the road, Jeremiah Howe from 
Wallingford. He was the Progenitor of all the families by the 
name of Howe in Goshen, and of many in Canaan. The next 
neighbor to Howe at the North, was Samuel Pettibone, from 
Simsbury. His house stood a few feet North of the present 
brick house of Thomas, and Hiram Griswould, on the same 
side of the way. He was the first La^^yer in Goshen, and for 
some time was State's Attorney. He was much employed in 
the early business transactions of the town ; but being over- 
come, and thrust down, by the Strong Man from the West In- 



23 

dies, he terminated his earthly existence at the old house, for- 
merly occupied by Ilarvey Brooks, About 115 rods North of 
the house of Pettibone on the West side of the road, stood the 
house of Christopher Grimes, from WaUingford, the old well 
still designating the location of his dwelling. North of the house 
of Grimes, and about 60 rods South of the house long owned, 
and occupied by Deacon Augustus Thomson, but now owned 
by Abraham Norton, and his son William, stood the house of 
Gideon Hurlhut, from Wethersfield, on the East side of the 
road. Hurlbut was a substantial man, and pious. He reared 
a numerous family, and has one Grand-daughter still living in 
the town — Lorana, the wife of Andrew Norton, Senior. 

A few rods North of Hurlbut's ; and on the west side of 
the road running North and South, and North of the road then 
leading to town hill, stood the house of Zachariah Curtis, from 
Wethersfield. The town hill road came into West street road 
at that time, between Gideon Ilurlburt's and Curtis' ; 40 or 50 
rods South of where it now comes in. North of Curtis', and 
opposite to the house of Abraham Norton, on the west side of 
the road, stood the house of Benjamin Phcljjs, from Windsor. 
He soon afterwards sold to Timothy Gaylord of WaUingford, 
Father of the late Joseph Gaylord, and Grand Father of Jo- 
seph Ives, and Willard Gaylord. This Timothy Gaylord was 
killed in the old French war ; was shot through the head by an 
Indian, as he stood behind a tree, and was moving out his own 
head to obtain a shot at the Indian. The next house North, 
on the West side of the way, near where now stands the barn 
of Truman Starr, was the house of John Wright, who had a 
numerous family. He is the ancestor of those who bear the 
name of Wright in this town. A little North of tliis, on the 
same side of the way, and a little North of the late Woodruff 
house, stood the house of Deacon Gideon Thompson, from 
New Haven. This house was palisadoed against the Indians. 
The manner of fortifying a house was this : — They dug a deep 
ditch around the house, placed logs perpendicularly in it all 
around the house, leaving a space only for a gate. The logs 
were placed close together, sharpened at the top, and extended 



24 

eight, ten, or twelve feet above the ground. The earth taken 
from the trench, was then returned, and beaten down, until 
the logs stood firmly ; and this with a gate well secured, was 
a tolerable defence against a sudden attack from the Indians. 
It is needless, perhaps, to say that the Indians did not deal in 
artillery. At this house a town meeting was held in May, 
1741. He was one of the first Deacons in the Church, being 
appointed at the time of the organization of the Church in 
November, 1740 — before the ordination of Mr. Heaton, or 
very soon afterwards. He was the first representative from 
this town, to the General Assembly 1757. And in 1759 he 
died at Hartford while a member of the Assembly. He was 
the Grandfather of Jonathan Thomson, and Deacon Augustus 
Thomson. From this house of Deacon Gideon Thomson, 
there was no road open either North or West in 1745 ; but all 
was forest with the exception of a settlement in Canada Vil- 
lage, so called. 

In 1739, or 40, the said Benjamin Frisbie of the South end, 
moved into that place, and built liim a house a few rods North 
of the present house of Augustus Miles, Esq. In 1742, he built 
a Saw Mill, where stands now the Woolen Factory, and soon 
after he built the first Grist Mill in town. This stood a little 
distance from the Saw Mill, and occupied the ground, which 
is now improved as a tannery by George Miles. Undoubtedly 
the inhabitants of this village, are indebted to this same Fris- 
bie, for the name of their village ; and that the Connecticut 
Historical Collections, have the truth in the case. Capt. Jon- 
athan Buel, who can remember 80 years, says, that it was 
called Canada as long ago as he can remember, and he always 
understood that it came by its name as stated in the Collec- 
tions, viz. that this Frisbie was ever talking about removing 
to Canada, but never went. The wags of his time being 
wearied with his story of Canada, told him he sJiouId live in 
Canada, and if he would not remove to Canada, they would 
bring Canada to him, and from that time, they called the place 
of his residence Canada. West of Canada Village, in 1745, 
there was no road, and no settlement, until we came to Corn- 



25 

wall. We will return then to Town Hill. Here were but 
three families, and all South-westerly of them in this town, 
was wilderness. On the top of Town Hill, on the West side 
of the road, and a little South of the present dwelling of Gen. 
Moses Cook, stood the house of Joseph Curtis, from Wethers- 
field. He had a numerous family. He sold out in 1750 to 
Daniel Cook, Father of the present Moses Cook, Senior, who 
still survives. About twenty-five rods South of Gen. Moses 
Cook's present dwelling, on the East side of the road, stood the 
house of Joseph Cook, from Wallingford, Father of Daniel 
Cook, and Grand-father of Moses Cook, Senior. Joseph Cook 
lived here until the time of his death, Nov. 7, 1764. 

South of Curtis', and about midway of the hill, on the West 
side of the road, stood the log house of Deacon Moses Lyman, 
from Northampton, Mass. His son Col. Moses Lyman, after- 
ward built the present brick house, now owned by the Hon. 
Moses Lyman, on the spot where stood the house of Deacon 
Lyman. This first house was built upon elevated underpin- 
nhig, and the windows were made high in the walls of the 
house, to prevent the Indians from firing into the windows, in 
case the family were invaded by them. But this Deacon Mo- 
ses Lyman was cut off" in the midst of his years, and in the 
midst of his usefulness, Jan. 6th, 1768, aged fifty-five. He had 
a protuberance of the bone in one of his limbs, submitted to 
amputation, and after one month's slow but incessant bleeding 
he expired. I have seen a printed sermon delivered on the 
occasion of his death, by ths Rev. Mr. Newell, which shows 
that the church, and town, were in mourning by this bereave- 
ment. They felt as did the young Prophets, at Elijah's remov- 
al — that the Lord had taken away their Head man from 
among them. And from all that I can learn of the aged now 
living concerning him, he was a great blessing to the town.. 
He came from Northampton, then the centre of Theology, 
and active piety in New England. He had sat under the 
Ministry of the celebrated Jonathan Edwards, seen, and felt 
the power of those great revivals, and he was eminently prepar- 
ed to bless a new settlement. Whatever his hand found to do 
4 



26 

of benevolence and usefulness, he did with his might ; and as 
a beneficent Providence had given him the ability to bless, so he 
imparted : the blessing of him that was ready to perish came 
upon biin, and he caused the widow's heart to sing for joy ? 
His rest is undoubtedly glorious ! We have wdth us to day 
three Grand-children of this man — Moses, Samuel, and Eras- 
tus I>,yman. He has here a Grcat-great-grand-child, who is 
the tenth Moses Lyman in regular succession, and the first 
son born in each successive family, and the first born in every 
family, with one exception. It has been said that Town Hill 
received its name on account of the early impression that 
there would be the centre of the town. It is more probable 
they thought that might be the centre of a South Parish, when 
the North part of the town became a Parish, and the South- 
west part became settled. At the North side of tliis Town 
Hill, we find a collection of water called Dog Pond. This- 
received its name from the simple fact, that Dea. Nathaniel 
Baldwin of the North part of tlie towii, lost liis dog there by 
drowning in 1738. The circumstances are not mentioned, but 
it is probable that the event occurred while the old Hunter 
was in the chase ! Leaving Town Hiil on the North side, and 
passing East towards Samuel PettiJDone's, now Thomas Gris- 
would's, and just before we reach the bottom of the hill, we 
see a Saw Mill, a little at our right, on the South side of the 
road, which is supplied with water taken by a small canal, from 
the natural channel made by the waters, which flow from 
Dog Pond. Tliis Mill was built in 1742 by Benjamin Phelps, 
and others. Proceeding on Eastwardly by Samuel Pettibone's, 
and crossing the meadow precisely as the road now runs, we 
shall come to the house of Z adieus Griswokld, from Windsor. 
His house stood a very httle North of the present house of the 
widow, and heirs of John Griswo>j.Id. He was the Father 
of all those inhabitants of this town, who have borne the name 
Griswosdd. He lived more than one hundred years, and his 
wife attained to just one hundred. His daughter in law, the 
wife of his son Giles Griswo\ild, still survives, and has attained 
to her ninety-ninth year. A little further to the North, and 



27 

we come to the house of Abel Phelps, from Slmsbury. It 
stood a few feet South-east from the present dwelling of Beebe 
Wadhams. He and his son Abel, occupied the house for manv 
years. Proceedmg North, we do not find a liabitalion, until 
we reach the residence of Capt. Samuel Thomson, from New 
Haven. His house stood on the West side of the North, and 
South road near the present store of Moses Lyman, Jun. The 
road from West street, came into Middle street, where it now 
does, and proceeding East by the first Meeting House, at the 
old ash tree, proceeded directly to East street, and came out 
nearly opposite to the road, that comes in from Torrington. 
On the South side of this East and West road, and ten rods 
East of Mechanic's hall, on middle street, hved Amos Thomson, 
from New Haven. Dea. Gideon Thomson, Samuel Thomson, 
and Amos Thomson, were all brothers, or near relatives. 
Proceeding North on Middle street till we come to the garden 
now improved by Simmons Scovil, and here we fiuid the site 
of the dwelling of Rev. Mr. Heaton, the first Minister of the 
town. This garden belongs to the house and lot now owned 
by Nelson Wadhams of Canada village. There was no other 
house between Mr. Heaton's, and the second Meeting house 
already described. At this date, there was no road directly 
East from the Meeting house, and none directly West. There 
was no house from Amos Thomson's, to East street, and none 
on Beach or Lucas Hill. There was a road open to West 
side, so called, but no house from the Meeting house, till we 
come to the house of Timothy Tattle, which stood on the East 
side of the road, nearly opposite to the present house of his 
Grand-daughter, Mrs. Huldah Tuttle. He was an original 
Proprietor in the^own, from Wallingford, and reared a nume- 
rous family. Some thirty or forty rods North of Tuttle's we 
come to the house of Daniel Richards, from Hartford, of whom 
we have already spoken. His house stood a little North-west 
from the present three story Hudson House. He was the Grand- 
father of the present Russel Richards. 

Passing onward to the Northr-west, till we cross tlie outlet 
of Narshapogge Pond, we come to the house of ^^B^^Beach, 



28 

standino; near where Russcl Richards' house now does. He 
was from Wallingford. At the Barnani house, South of the 
West side grave yard, lived Daniel Harris, Jun, from Walling- 
ford. No descendants in town. A Uttle West from the last 
mentioned place, and in the present garden of Lewis C. Wad- 
hams, on the East side of his house, stood the house of Benja- 
min Deming, from Middletown, Father of Wait, Ellas and Jon- 
athan Deming. Still farther North, about sixty rods, on the 
East side of the road, stood the house of Thomas Marvin, 
from Litchfield. He was an original Proprietor in the town, 
but did not remain long here. Near the house long occupied 
by Philo Collins, and now by William Miles, stood the house of 
Bcnajah Williams, from Stonington, an original Proprietor in 
two rights. He did not remain long in town, but sold his large 
and beautiful farm of more than 400 acres to Ephraim Wil- 
liams of Wethersfield, whose son Jacob Williams, came and 
lived on it. Pursuing this road North, until we come to the 
present new house of Acros Lawton, we come to the house 
of Jonah Case, from Simsbury, an original Proprietor. From 
this house North, all was Wilderness, and no road. There 
was no house North of the Meeting house, and West of 
Humphrey's lane, until we came to West side street, already 
described. We must return back then to the Center, and be- 
fore we go to East street, we must visit the beautiful hill of 
Andrew Norton, Jun., three-fourths of a mile South-east from 
this house. On the East declivity of this hill, on the South 
side of the road, and about fifteen rods East of the old house 
of Andrew Norton, Jun., stood the house of Lenus Ward, from 
Wallingford. In the autumn of the year of which we are 
now speaking 1 745 — Ward sold out to William Walter, who 
brought up a family there, and from him the Walters in Goshen 
have descended. At a little later date than the time of Avhich 
we are speaking, came David Norton, from Durham, and built 
a house on the North side of the road, on the top of the hill, 
almost on the same spot where now stands the new house of 
Andrew Norton, Jun. He was a young man of unusual enter- 
prise, and of substantial character. He was the Father of 



29 

David, Eber, Oliver, John, Anna, Alexander, Andrew, William, 
and Miriam, three of whom continue to this present time, Al- 
exander, Andrew, and-^sipi^i:- lie was however taken away v^^^ 
in the midst of life and usefulness. He was greatly interested 
in the buildino; of the third mcetino;-house in 17G9. On Mon- 
day he labored very hard in getting in large stones for the 
foundation of that house. He was taken suddenly ill, and died 
on Thursday, aged fo/rty-four ; so that like David of old, he 
was not pei'mittcd to see the house his heart was fixed upon. 
Not only his family, but the town felt their bereavement. 

At the South end of East street, we come to the place of 
Cyprian Collins, the fourth son of Rev. Timothy Collins, of 
Litchfield. In the sprmg of this year, Rev. Mr. Collins pur- 
chased land at that place, and some time afterwards, sent his 
son Cyprian to clear the land, and build upon it, with the 
promise of a future deed. The first house of Cyprian Collins 
stood on the West side of the road, near the horse shed of 
Capt. Timothy Collins. His second house was the one now 
owned and occupied by Capt. Timothy Collins. This Cyprian 
Collins had a numerous family, and was the ancestor of all 
who bear the name of Collins in this town. He had eleven 
children, Ambrose, Triphena, Amanda, Philo, Anna, Luranda, 
Rhoda, Cyprian, Phebe, and Tyrannus ; and all these lived to 
become heads of numerous families. Cyprian Collins was a 
frugal and an industrious man, and a firm patriot in the Revo- 
lution. In the early period of his life, he owned the covenant, 
as it was called, and brought his children to baptism, and was 
always a regular attendant on divine worship. And here it 
may not be inappropriate to remark, for the benefit of the ris- 
ing generation, that the practice of receiving persons of moral 
life into a half-way relation to the church, had obtained exten- 
sively in New-England at that day. The applicant for this re- 
lation was required to profess his belief in the fundamental 
principles of the Gospel, promise to lead a sober life, and to 
train up his household in the things of religion. If he would do 
this, he might bring his children to baptism, and yet not con- 
sider himself a member of the Church, or come to the com- 



30 

municn table, and not even consider himself a regenerate per- 
son. This will explain what we have further to say of Mr 
Cyprian Collins. Notwithstanding he had owned the cove- 
nant, had his children baptized, and ever been a regular attend- 
ant on the instituted means of grace, yet in old age, his atten- 
tion was powerfully arrested to the spirtual concerns of liis ■ 
soul: he realized that he was a great sinner, cast himself upon 
the mercy of the Saviour, and, as we trust, obtained eternal 
life. At the age of seventy-five years, he made a public pro- 
fession of religion, and to the close of his life, gave pleasing evi- 
dence, that he was indeed a child of God. 

I will here remark, that in 1745 there was no road from 
Litchfield to meet East street road, for I find that at a town 
meeting in 1749, a committee was raised to " treat with Litch- 
field men, about their laying a road to meet our East side 
road." 

Leaving the place of Cyprian Collins, and proceeding North, 
we come to the house of Benoni Hills, standing near the 
North-west corner of the present barn of the late Samuel D. 
Street. The road then ran West of this barn. Benoni Hills 
was the Father of Zimri, and Col. Medad Hills, About nine 
rods West of the present house of William Lyman, the late 
residence of Capt. Jonathan North, and West of the road as it 
then run, stood the house of Joseph North, from Farmington. 
He was the Father of Doctor Joseph North, Ezekiel North, 
and others. This house was palisadoed, or fortified against the 
Indians. A httle further North, and just where the barn 
stands which was lately owned and improved by Dudley Hen- 
derson, stood the house of Capt. Samuel Hinman, an origmal 
proprietor, from Litchfield. This house was built in the fall of 
1 738. About thirty rods North of Hinman's, and a little South 
of the turnpike road, as it comes into East street, from Sha- 
ron, stood the house of Stephen Goodwin, from Simsbury. Here 
Goodwin kept tavern some years. Afterwards he built about 
twenty rods South-east, and there he kept a tavern. Of tliis 
man we shall hear again, when we come to the war of 
the Revolution, A few feet North of the present brick 



31 

house of Joseph Goddard, built by Bu'dsey Norlou, Esq., stood 
the log house of Deacon Ehcnczer Norton, from Durham. A 
few years afterwards he built the house which stood a little 
North-west of the present brick house, and in this he lived until 
his decease. This Deacon, or Esquire, or Colonel, Norton, for 
he bore these several titles at the same time, was a distinguish- 
ed character in his day. No man, perhaps, with the exception 
of Deacon Moses Lyman, was ever more loved and honored 
by the people of tliis town, than he. He was a member of the 
General Assembly twenty-six sessions, in times that tried 
men's souls. And he would have been called to discharge those 
duties still longer, but his increasing mfirmities induced him to 
decline all public services. He married Elizabeth, the daugh- 
ter of Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin, of this town, and their child- 
ren were Miles, Aaron, Elizabeth, Ebenezer, Rachel, Marana, 
Nathaniel, Olive, and Birdsey. They have three Grand-child- 
ren, now living in town — Abraham Norton, Deacon Lewis M. 
Norton, and Elizabeth M., the wife of Joseph Goddard. He 
departed this life March 15, 1785, aged seventy. She died 
April 16, 1811, aged eighty-nine. Their descendants at tho 
time of her death were 208. Four of them were Great-great- 
grand-children. 

About tliirty rods North from the house of Deacon Ebenezer 
Norton, and a little North-east of the red house once occupied 
by Deacon Samuel Norton, and now owned and occupied by 
Adam Bcntly, stood the log house of Samuel Norton, from Dur- 
ham. This house was palisadoed against the Indians. Eben- 
ezer, Samuel and David Norton, were brethren, the sons of 
Samuel Norton, of Durham. 

Proceeding North we come to the dwelling of Nathaniel 
Stanley, from Farmington. His log house stood about two 
rods North-west from the North-west corner of the present 
house, so long occupied by his Grand-son William Stanley, and 
his Great-grand-son Deacon George Stanley, but now owned 
by Adam Bently. He came to this town in 1742, and pur- 
chased the lot of Joseph Hickock. He died March 2, 1 770, 
attaining to more than ninety years. 



32 

A few rods North-cast of the East street burying ground, on 
the East side of the road, stands the same house which stood 
there in 1745, and is one of the oldest houses in the town 
It was originally the house of Barnabas Beach, eldest son of 
Captain John Beach. Daniel Miles, Esq. succeeded Mr. Beach. 
It was long known as the residence of Samuel Chapin, Esq., 
and is now the home of widow Emily Chapin. On the same 
side, about twenty rods South-east of the dwelling of Jesse 
Beach, stood the house of Adna Beach, second son of Captain 
Jolm Beach. He had a numerous family, was once a repre- 
sentative to the General Assembly, and was the Grand-father 
of Jesse Beach. A little North of the house occupied by Nor- 
man Austin, on the same side of the way, stood the house of 
Edmund Beach, the third son of Captain John Beach. His 
family was numerous. Upon the death of Dea. Ebenezer Nor- 
ton, he was chosen to succeed him in the office of deacon. 
Three times he was sent a representative to the General As- 
sembly. His house has remained until recently, and its place 
may yet be seen. 

A little at the North of the old house now spoken of, on the 
same side of the way, opposite to the house of Eber Bailey, and 
North of the road running East, stood the house of Captain, or 
Deacon John Beach, the place already spoken of as the one 
where the Rev. Mr. Ileaton was ordained. This was the old 
liive, where issued nearly all the families bearing the name of 
Beach m this town. Deacon John Beach was from Walling- 
ford, an original Proprietor in two rights, and came to this 
town in 1738 with nine sons — Barnabas, Adna, Edmund, Li- 
nus, Amos, Jacob, John, Roys, and Baldwin. Being thus 
blessed with a quiver full of arrows, he commanded respect. 
First and last, he sustained all important offices in the town. 
Four times he represented this town in the General Assembly. 
We may suppose, that Dea. Beach, with his nine sons, would 
not, in the first instance, erect a mean cabin. Tliis, with the 
considerations, that there was no meeting-house fitted to the 
occasion of an ordination in 1740 ; that there was no road 
from East to IMiddle street, worthy of being called a road; 



33 

and that East street was at that time more thickly inhabited 
than any other section of the town, is explanatory why Mr. 
Heaton was ordained at the house of Deacon John Beach. I 
will remark here, that Dea. John Beach had a brother, Samuel, 
who settled in Litchfield, and gave name to the North and 
South street, that is called Beach street. He was the progen- 
itor of those families of that name in that neighborhood. I will 
also say that Jacob Beach, the sixth son of Deacon John Beach, 
was the Father of the present Francis and Julius Beach, whose 
joint ages amount to 1 56 years, and are with us to-day. 

From Deacon John Beach's house, we proceed North till we 
come to the garden of Robert Palmer, on the East side of East 
street and on the South side of the road leading Eastward, and 
there stood the house of Samuel Towner, from Waterbury. 
He was an original proprietor, but did not remain long in town. 
Just North of Towner's house, and near the spot where Ro- 
bert Palmer's house now stands, stood the house o^ John North, 
from Farmington. He did something as a merchant there. 
He built what was called the Blue house, deriving its name 
from the color of its paint. It stood precisely on the spot 
where now stands the house of Robert Palmer. This house 
was struck by lightning in the afternoon of the 6th of June, 
1767, in a tremendous tempest of lightning, thunder and rain. 
All were struck down in the house, and two men, Clark Rice 
and Martin Wilcox, were killed. This Martin Wilcox was a 
young man, pious and much beloved. The house seemed in- 
stantly on fire in various places, and the bodies of these men 
were nearly consumed before they could be taken from the 
flames. The terror produced by this Providence was so great, 
that the ancients speak of it with awe to the present day. 
About twenty rods at the North of the Blue house, on the 
West side of the road, stood the house of John Thomson, Jun., 
from Wallingford. His father was the original proprietor. 
John Thomson was the progenitor of the Thomsons in the 
North part of the town. 

North of John Thomson's, and fifty rods South-east of the 
yellow house built by Asaph Hall, Esq., stood the log house of 



84 

Elkanah Hull, from Wallingford. His father David Hall, was 
*tlie original proprietor in two rights, but he never lived in 
Goshen. He afterwards was killed by a ball at Fort George, 
in the old French war. Asaph Hall, Esq., succeeded Elkanah 
at the log house, and lived there until he built the yellow house, 
and there lived until his death, about thirty-eight years ago. 
Asaph Hall was a talented man, and possessed the confidence 
of the people of this town. Twenty-four times between 1773 
and 1792 he sat in the General Assembly. He was then called 
Captain Hall. For many years he sustained the office of mag- 
istrate, and was a firm friend to his country. 

And now we come to the house of Deacon Nathaniel Bald- 
win, one of the first characters of that day. He was originally 
from Guilford, but came first to Litchfield, and at the settle- 
ment of this town, he purchased two rights and came to Go- 
shen in 1739. His house stood on the West side of East street, 
and on the South side of the narrow road leading to Hum- 
phrey's lane, a few rods South-west from the brick house of 
Asaph Hall. He was eminently a man of God, and was highly 
esteemed both in the church and in the town. Twice was he 
sent to the General Assembly. He was at first a deacon in the 
church at Guilford, then at Litchfield, and as soon as the church 
was organized here, he was appointed one of their first dea- 
cons. He married, while yet in Guilford, Elizabeth, the sister 
of Abraham Parmele, the progenitor of all the Parmeles in 
Goshen. Deacon Baldwin, his wife, and his eight children, all 
had a standing in this church, and although all of them have 
long since gone from this world, yet our faith sees them mem- 
bers of tlie church triumphant and glorfied, the father saying, 
"Behold, I and the children ivhom the Lord hath given me/" 
The names of their children were Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Sam- 
uel, BrcAven, Anne, Sarah, Lucy and Rachel. The late Isaac 
Baldwin, of this town, was the Son of Nathaniel Baldwin, and 
Grand-son of Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin. 

The late Brewen Baldwin, was Grand-son of Deacon Na- 
thaniel Baldwin, and Son of Samuel Baldwin. But the late 
Daniel, Stephen, and EUsha Baldwin, were Grand-sons of 



35 

Timothy Baldwin, of Guilford, brother of Deacon Nathaniel 
Baldwin. On the East side of the road, and nearly opposite 
to Asaph Hall's brick house, on the North side of the road 
which leads to Hart Hollow, stood the house of John Smith, 
from Farmington. Here he commenced trading, and was the 
first merchant in the town. After about two years, he re- 
moved to the Towner house, just South of Robert Palmer's ; 
and next he came to the lot on which Erastus Lyman, Esq., 
now lives. He built a large house between Mechanic's Hall, 
and the house of Esquire Lyman, afterwards called the Kettle 
house. He for some years made potash, on the little stream 
at the foot of the hill, East of this house ; and from this cir- 
cumstance, the stream derived its name Potash brook. The 
little children who resort to this place in the summer months, 
when out of school, to catch tadpoles, or porwigles, may re- 
member how they come to say, "Come let us go to the Pot- 
ash." Abigail, the daughter of this Mr. Smith, married the 
* Rev. Abel Newell, the second minister in the town. 

We return to East street, and proceeding North from 
Smith's house, we come to the present st^re of Putnam Bailey. 
Here stood the house of Timothy Stanlei/, the brother of Na- 
thaniel Stanley, of w^hom we have spoken. He came into 
town in the summer of 1742, from Farmington. His descend- 
ants are numerous, but are scattered abroad in the several 
States. From this house there was a highway, existing in 
name, a little distance North of the present house of Collins 
Baldwin, but the whole country North and East was yet in 
possession of the tenants of the forest. Nature vegetated, 
blossomed, matured, and fell, without the friendly hand of cul- 
ture, and without imparting directly a single blessing to civilized 

life. 

In Humphrey's lane, as it is called, a road running parallel 
with East street. South of the North meeting-house and a little 
West of East street, there were two families. On the West 
side of this lane, about ten rods from where the road from the 
meeting-house comes into the lane, stood the house of John 
Wilcox, from Farmmgton. Daniel Wilcox, from Simsbury, 



36 

was the original owner. The posterity of this John Wilcox 
have now become numerous. John Flavel Wilcox is his de- 
scendant. The other family in this street was Samuel Hum- 
phery. His house was thirty or forty rods South of Wilcox, 
on the East side of the road as it now is, but on the West as it 
then was. Humphrey was an original proprietor from Sims- 
bury. He had eishteen children by four wives — ten sons, and 
eight daughters ; and his posterity are very numerous, and 
have ever well sustained the reputation of their worthy pro- 
genitor. Indeed it is thought that the descendants of this 
Samuel Humphrey are more numerous, by far, than the de- 
scendants of any other man who ever lived in Goshen. 

We have now but one more location to notice. It is that 
of Abraham Parmele, from Guilford. His father was the orig- 
inal proprietor, but never came here to live. His son came on 
at the settlement of the town. His house, when built, 
stood about 130 rods North-west of Whist pond, on the North 
and South road, running West of the pond, and near where 
the East and West road from Robert Palmer's, comes into the 
pond road. The first year he labored on this lot all alone, but 
boarded with his uncle Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin, of East 
street. The next year he had a wigwam, and boarded him- 
self; and he had a bed too, for returning from Guilford in the 
spring of that year, he brought with him a bag of grass-seed 
which was far more elastic and downy than the floor of his cabin. 
On this he reposed at night, secure from the wolves that howled 
around his tenement. It is said of young Parmele, that his 
axe was heavy, but he knew it not. It fell thick and strong. 
The sound thereof was from early morn until the stars ap- 
peai-ed, and the sturdy sons of the forest, lay around him as 
windfalls ! But although he was thus enjoying single blessed- 
ness in the stillness, grandeur, and sublimity of a deep forest, 
yet it seems he did not think it good for man to live alone al- 
ways, and believed there must be a help meet for him some 
where. In the summer of 1 745, his house went up, an indica- 
tion of a revolution in his domestic establishment, and in May, 
1746, Mary Stanley, the 4th Daughter of Nathaniel Stanley of 



37 

6f East Street, was legally constituted associated Head of the 
establishment. This was an honorable, and a happy union. 
They had ten children, nearly all them, with the Parents, be- 
came pious, and two of the Sons entered the Gospel Ministry. 
This was the Father of our much loved Friend, and Father in 
the town, Nathaniel Stanley Parmele, who still survives the 
successive attacks of the most formidable disease, which falls 
upon our race — Apoplexy ! I have several times mention- 
ed Whist Pond in the vicinity of Mr. Parmele's. This Pond 
derives its name from an old Indian of that name, who came 
every year alone from Farmington, and spent the sea son in 
hunting around the Pond, and fishing, and bathing in it, but 
who was finally drowned in its waters. I will here remark 
that Gun Stock Brook, in the North part of the town, derived 
its name from the fact, that curly Maple grew plentifully 
upon its banks, which was much used during the war of the 
revolution in the manufacture of stocks for muskets. 

I have now presented you with a map of this town, as it 
was when the original Proprietors were fairly settled on their 
lots. And we can hardly fail to see that some parts of the 
town, were then as thickly inhabited as at this day. This was 
the case with West street all the distance to Litchfield line. 
It was so on West side from Timothy Tuttle's to the house of 
William Miles, and on East street, from Cyprian Collins to 
Putnam Bailey's store. 

But other parts of the town, were either thinly inhabited or 
remained a wilderness, as at the beginning. But how solemn 
the thought, that of all the families spoken of, not one remains. 
But few of their children remain, and these are all bending to 
the earth for very age ! 

How brief is this life ! How mutable all things here ! 

We will now bring into view some of the civil, and ecclesi- 
astical affairs of the town, at the same time of which we have 
been speaking — 1745. It seems that at an early period, the 
inhabitants of the North part of the town, were sensible of the 
disadvantages they labored under, from the location of the 
meeting h -use in this place, and that they commendably 



38 

labored, for one of two things, either, that the second meeting 
house should be located further North, or that the town should 
be divided into two Parishes. And this was the cause of a 
Committee being appointed by the General Assembly in 1740 
to come to this place, and decide where the house should stand. 
And we can scarcely doubt but that it was in view of another 
ecclesiastical society existing at the North, that the stake 
for the second meeting house was placed here ; for no man 
in his senses could suppose, that a house for worship here, 
would give equal advantages, to the North, with those imparted 
to the South. Accordingly, we find a vote passed at a pub- 
lic town meeting, on the 10th of December, 1745, expressing 
their willingness for the town to be divided into two ecclesias- 
tical societies, as soon as the North should stand 1500 pounds 
on the grand list, and the dividing line should be through the 
centre of the town, running East and West. This appears to 
have been satisfactory at the time, and the North and South 
proceeded on in their original relation ; and indeed, nothing 
appears on record to show that this subject ever alienated the 
feelings of the brethren of the church, or that it ever interrup- 
ted the community of feeling, between families naturally allied. 
But at this early period of Mr. Heaton's ministry among the 
people of Goshen, dissatisfaction arose in the minds of many 
in regard to him, and early in the year of 1746, we find one of 
the most loving, modest, and polite invitations for Mr. Heaton 
to leave them, that may be found, I think, on history. The 
vote stands thus : — " Voted, that vt^e will choose a Committee 
to treat with our Rev. Pastor, about some reasonable, and 
loving terms of agreement, so that the door may be opened, 
if he in his wisdom, shall think fit, to seek for an orderly dis- 
mission from the work of the ministry in this place, or to treat 
with him about making some suitable alterations." 

Mr. Heaton, it seems, was not equally pacific, and loving 
towards his people, but retained h's relation to them as a Pas- 
tor, seven years longer. The reasons for this di:^satisfaction 
are no where publicly stated ; but it may be supposed, that 
the pressure of the times, together with their recent origin. 



39 

and expenditures, contributed something to this uneasiness ; 
for we have arrived to that period, when the inhabitants w^ere 
visited with the greatest calamity, they ever were called to 
experience, I mean what is termed the T/te Old French war ! 
This was a war that originated from the rival interests of 
France and England, both in Europe, and America. France 
had long asserted her right to North America, by prior discov- 
ery, and she had actually been prior in her settlements, in No- 
va Scotia and in Canada. She claimed also all the great val- 
ey of the West, and as fast as possible for her, she sent out 
her Jesuit Pioneers, to travel from the gulf of Mexico to the 
great lakes, gaining the affections, and confidence of all the In- 
dian tribes making treaties with them, inspiring them with 
hatred, and revenge towards the English Colonies, building 
forts upon the banks of the father of rivers, the Mississippi, 
and upon the shores of the great lakes ; and she viewed the 
English Colonies upon the shores of the Atlantic, as intruders, 
and enemies. England, on the other hand, viewed the advan- 
ces of the French, with equal jealousy, and she was resolved 
on sustaining her colonies, and expelling the French from North 
America. It was natural, then, to expect, that in the event of 
war between France and England in Europe, this country 
would become the arena w^iere the combatants would spend 
no inconsiderable portion of their strength. And so it turned 
out, and the portion which fell to these Colonies was calamit- 
ous in the extreme. The evils they suffered, were not the or- 
dinary concomitants of war simply, but the horrors of an In- 
dian war, aggravated by every cruelty, that a powerful, en- 
lightened, and exasperated enemy could suggest, so that when 
war was proclaimed, between these two nations in 1744, these 
Colonies were the first to feel the miseries of the tomahawk 
and scalping knife, sharpened and rendered mighty by for- 
eign leaders, who rioted in the blood of mother's, and their 
infants. These Colonies then took up arms, not only in de- 
fence of civil rights, but they fought for their lives, and the 
lives of their families. It was victory or death. The first 
enterprize of the Colonics against the French in the year 1745, 



40 

was directed against Louisburg, the capital of the French set- 
tlement in Nova Scotia, and vicinity. It was a strongly forti- 
fied place. But they were surprised and captured by the 
New England troops. Connecticut, although then a small Col- 
ony, furnished a thousand men for the taking and retaining of 
that place. I know not whether any men from Goshen were 
in the first expedition against Louisburg ; but they could not 
but feel the eflfects of this campaign, as the Colonies paid the 
whole expense ; and although one million pounds sterling, 
was captured at, and before Louisburg, by New England 
troops, not one cent came to the aid of the colonies, except a 
small compensation to a Capt. Fletcher, who decoyed a South 
Sea ship into the harbor of Louisburg, estimated at 400,000 
pounds. For the prosecution of the war in 1746, Connecticut 
raised 1000 men, and gave thirty pounds bounty for every en- 
listment. The enlistment alone cost the colony 30,000 pounds. 
But on account of troubles at home, neither England or France 
did much to decide the contest in this country, in this, or the 
following year ; and in April, 1748, a treaty was entered into, 
which suspended hostilities, about six years until 1754. This 
treaty restored all things as they were before the war. 

We will now look at some of the domestic transactions of the 
town from 1745 to 1754. At a town meeting, February 16th, 
1747, it was voted to pay Timothy Stanley thirty shillings, old 
tenor, for killing a wolf. April 22, 1747, the town forbids the 
Select men paying the Rev. Mr. Heaton any money. Janua- 
ry 4, 1748, the town raise a committee to lay out a road four 
rods wide from the meeting house, north to Canaan. Septem- 
ber 19, 1749, a committee is raised to look out a road from 
Deacon Gideon Thompson's (opposite the present house of 
Truman Starr, Esq.) to Frisbie's Mills in Canada, and to Corn- 
wall. April 8, 1751, It was voted that Samuel Pettibone, 
Esq. be an agent to petition the General Assembly, for a coun- 
ty in this part of their government. I would here remark that 
until 1751, these Western towns were all included in the coun- 
ty of Hartford ; but this year the new county of Litchfield 
was created. In June, 1753, the Rev. Stephen Heaton was 



41 

dismissed from his pastoral relation to this church, and people, 
and steps were immediately taken to procure preaching. It 
appears that Mr. Abel Newell, was their first candidate upon 
Mr. Heaton's removal, that he received a call to settle with 
them in 1754, but did not receive ordination till 1755. The 
town stipulated to pay Mr. Newell fifteen hundred pounds 
settlement, old tenor, within three years of his ordination, 500 
pounds annually for three years. His salary for the first year 
was to be equal in value to one hundred bushels of wheat, to 
sixty-six bushels of rye, and to two hundred and one bushels of 
Indian corn ; and then to rise forty pounds per annum, old 
tenor, in the same proportion to said grain, till the salary should 
amount in value to one hundred and twelve bushels of wheat, 
to one hundred and thirty four bushels of rye, and to two hun- 
dred and twenty five bushels of Indian corn, and then his sala- 
ry was to remain fixed at that sum. 

But we now come to a renewal of the old French war, 
which had been suspended with no other view than to give the 
principal belligerents in Europe, time to recruit their exhausted 
energies. And scarcely had these colonies enjoyed a respite 
from their toils and dangers ; for the French foreeseing there 
must be a renewal of the contest soon, had kept the Indians 
constantly irritated, and they had again and again massacred 
some and captured others of our border inhabitants. But 
now the recruited energies of France and England awoke, 
and it was soon apparent, that each of them was preparing to 
give the other the fatal blow. Four expeditions were planned 
by England against the French this season, 1755. One 
against fort Du Quesne in Ohio, commanded by General Brad- 
dock, and one against Nova Scotia, and a third against Crown 
Point, and a fourth against Niagara. The colonies were called 
upon to raise, equip, and provision as many troops as they well 
could. Connecticut sent into the field one thousand men, and 
voted to raise five hundred more, and to have them ready to 
march at a moment's warning if occasion demanded. The 
Connecticut troops were destined for Crown Point, under the 
command of Major General Lyman. In August these troops 
6 



42 

reacfied the S^outh end of lake George, where tiiey had (heir 
first battle with the French and Indians, under Baron Deiskau, 
It was a hard fought battle, but the French were defeated, their 
General wounded, and taken prisoner, and seven hundred of 
his troops left dead on tlie field. Tlie loss of the Provincials 
was two hundred, Some men fron^ tliis tov/n were in that 
battle, and here it was that Timothy Gaylord lost his-life by tlie 
unerring aim of an Indian, as previously slated. This battle 
aroused the fears, and energies of all New England. Connect- 
icut called a special Assembly, and m a little more than one 
week, she raised, equipped, and sent out two regiments of 
seven hundred and fifty men each, to reinforce oar army, so- 
that in 1755, Connecticut alone sent into the field two thousand 
five hundred troops, requiring at that time, doubtless, a greater 
effort, than she would now make in sending thh'ty thousand 
troops into tlie field ; the number of her inhabitants at that 
time, poor as they were, not exceeding we should think, the 
present number in the two counties of Hartford and Litch- 
field. With this battle terminated the campaign of 1755. Of 
the four expiditions projected by England for this year, two 
were successful, and two were failures. That against Nova 
Scotia succeeded, and this at lake George ; but that under 
General Braddock was a total defeat, and that under Govern- 
or Shirley against Niagara, a failure. The plan of operations 
for 1756, was to prosecute the enterprises against Crown 
Point, Niag-ara, and fort Du Quesne. To meet the expecta- 
tions of England, Connecticut raised two thousand five hun- 
dred men, more than double the number required by the Com- 
mander in Chief, and more than double her proportion to oth- 
er colonies. England sent out more troops with new com- 
manders. General Abercrombie, and Lord Loudon. But all 
was delay on the part of England, and notwithstanding there 
was the finest army, early in the camp at Albany, ever yet 
seen in the colonies, ten thousand strong, with two thousand 
[n their forts at the North, yet the Generals did not reach Al- 
bany until about the first of July, and nothing was done that 
year, offensive, and the English lost their important fort at Os- 



4a 

wego. Although the calonics wore greatly dishearlened ift 
view of these results, and had lost tlioir confidence in these 
Generals, yet Connecticut raised for the campaign of 1757, 
two thousand five hundred troops, and they were in readiness 
to enter the field at an early day. But when the fleet arrived 
from England this year, much of the season ^\as past. They 
reached Halifax the 9lh day of July, and then the colonies 
learned that the Northern campaign was wholly laid aside^ 
the forts Edward, and William Henry, were to be left wholly 
unsustained, and their troops for that y-?ar were to be called 
away to recapture Louisburg, on the Island of Cape Breton> 
which had been surrendered at the treaty of 1748. Nothing 
could exceed the astonishment of the colonies, at the folly, and 
madness of this course, for they foresaw nothing but disaste r 
and ruin attending it ; but they acquiesced, until the British 
commander, relinquished the object himself-, but at so late a 
period in the season, as to prevent their doing any thing for the 
support of their forts at the North. The French General 
Montcalm, seeing the exposed situation of these fprts, near lake 
George, moved with his army from Crown Point, and shortly 
reduced them. Many Americans fell in, and around those 
forts, and a vast amount of property in military stores, fell 
into the possession of the French. The colonies made all 
haste to reinforce these forts, as soon as they heard that they 
were invested, and Connecticut sent forward five thousand 
troops, but the fatal blow was struck before relief could be af- 
forded. This terminated the third year of the war. The re- 
sources of the colonies were nearly exhausted. Their men 
had perished in battle, and in camp, and their only reward 
was defeat, and disgrace. Dissatisfaction was now at its 
height in the colonies, and it extended to the mother country. 
This produced a change in the ministry, and the incomparable 
Pitt, was brought forward. This inspired all with new life, 
and Connecticut, exhausted, and feeble as she was, voted to 
raise five thousand troops for the campaign of 1758, and to 
raise thirty thousand pounds, lawful money, by the emission 
of bills of credit, bearing interest at five per cent. With the 



44 

troops and fleet, which came out from England this year, 
came as commanders, the ever memorable names, Amherst, 
and Wolfe. They inspired the armies with invincible cour- 
age. The fruit of this campaign was the fall of Louisburg, 
forts Edward, and William Henry, Frontenac, and Du Ques- 
ne, and every thing was inspiring to England and the colonies. 
*ro prepare for the campaign of 1759, Connecticut voted to 
raise five thousand troops, and fifty thousand pounds, lawful 
money by bills of credit, and laid a tax adequate to redeem all 
their bills. The design of this campaign, was to carry the 
War into the heart of Canada, and strike an effectual blow up- 
on an enemy that had so lately triumphed, and was full of 
hope. The troops were early in the field, and Ticonderoga, 
and Crown Point, Avere the first to fall into the possession of 
the English. The fort at Niagara, was the next to surrender, 
and lastly Quebec itself, the Gibralter of America, September 
18th, 1759. This was the decisive blow, so long anticipated, 
for which so much blood, and treasure had been expended ! 
The battle which transferred Quebec from the hands of the 
French, to those of the English, will ever stand on history, as 
one of the most tremendous, that was ever fought by men. 
Each General, each subaltern, and each soldier, on both sides, 
fought as for their all, and f r t! e last time ' The two com- 
manders, Wolfe, and Montcalm, may well compare with Han- 
'nibal, and Scipio, before the walls of Carthage. They both 
fell, the former, rejoicing that his death was the ransom of his 
country from incalculable evil, and the latter sorrowing in view 
of that cloud, that hung over his country's future destiny ! I 
must be permitted to say in this connexion, that history has 
^ever exhibited to me more splendid military talents, than we 
witness in General Wolf, at the capture of Louisburg, and 
then at Quebei. But my friends, let us remember that our 
father's were there ! They were among the brave, and true 
hearted, and the dead ! Some probably from our own town, 
who on that terrible, eventful day, amidst thunder, fire, and 
blood, thought of parents, wives, and children on the green hills 
of Goshen, whom they were never to see ! Peace to their 
ashes on the heights of Abraham. While they sleep, we their 



45 



descendants will not be unmindful of the debt of gratitude we 

owe them. 

But with the fall of .Quebec, there was not the immediate 
surrender of all the forces of the French in Canada, and there 
was another demand of the colonies for an army to be raised 
for a campaign in 17G0. Connecticut again raised her 5,000 
men, and sent them into the field, and this year, the remaining 
frao-inents of the French armies were captured, and all the 
Ca^adas were in the possession of the British Crown. But all 
those forts which had been taken from the enemy, were to be 
garrisoned; new forts to be built, roads to be repaired, and 
new ones made, and every thing done to secure the peace ot 
this extended territory! For these, another requisition was 
made of the colonies for an army in 1761. Connecticu 
raised 2300 men, and 45,000 pounds to defray the expenses ! 
Again the same number of troops were reqmred for 1762. 
They were raised by this colony, and 65,000 pounds were 
voted to be raised, and taxes laid to redeem the bills But the 
treaty of Paris, in February, 1763, released these colonies from 
the further labors, sacrifices, and sufferings, of a long, and 
cruelly savage war. Great joy was experienced on the recep- 
tion of the news of peace, and all successes were ascribed to 
Hi^ who ruleth over all. But almost incredible wa the ex- 
pens'e of this, then small, and infant colony. After all remu- 
neration from the British Parliament, it appears that the colony 
had expended more than 400,000 pounds sterling exclusive of 
the expenses of the four first years of the war from 1744 o 
ms And this vast amount was paid by this colony, w.^ 
Uttte or no depreciation in the^r bill . because they taxed the 
neo^^^^^^^^ year to year, to meet the demands on the treasury 
'7 d now et us reflect for a moment, with what constancy 
and perseverance the colonies sustained those burdens ! And 
wharha^lslips, new -tlements like those ot^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
that day, must have suffered, m order to -- f J^^^^^^, 
government, and all domes.c ^J^-j J^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this 

know not by any experience, and we near -luie 
d"yrbecaui a war succeeded that, which resulted .nour Inde- 



46 

pendence, a theme ever new, and inspii'ir.g to us ; but we can 
remember the tales of old men, thirty, forty, and fifty years 
ago, and they carried us back to the old zvar, for hard- 
ships, sufferings, and deeds of daring ; and Louisburg, Forts 
Edward and William Henry, and the heights of Abraham, 
could scarcely be named, without convulsing their frames, and 
drawing tears from their eyes. 

There is nothing especially interesting in the public transac- 
tions of the town, from 1 755 to 1 765. There is one vote of 
the town in 1762, which may be humiUating to our present 
feelings, and yet it confirms what I have already stated in re- 
gard to the pressure of the times, in the new settlements at that 
period, and shows how the views and feelings of men, will 
differ at different times, in regard to the morality of things, 
according to the light they have on those subjects. The vote 
reads thus, " Voted to choose an agent for said town to pre- 
fer a prayer to the General Assembly at their session in May 
next, praying said Assembly to grant to said town, liberty to 
raise the sum of 200 pounds, by a Lottery, for the making and 
mending highways, in said town, under such regulations as said 
Assembly in their wisdom, shall think proper." Another vote 
January 12, 1763, will show us the price of different kinds of 
grain at that time — " Voted to give the Rev. Mr. Newell for 
his services in the ministry, in this town the year past — for 
wheat, four shillings per bushel — and for rye, two shillings 
and nine pence per bushel — and for Indian corn, two shillings 
per bushel." 

April 21, 1768, "Voted forty-nine to twenty-two, that a new 
meeting-house is needed. July 3, 1769, Voted to build anew 
meeting-house for public worship, at the place affixed by the 
County Court in said town. Voted, that said meeting-house 
be sixty-four feet in length, and forty-four in breadth, and 
that Ensign David Norton, Lieut. Parmele, and Zacheus Gris- 
would be a committee to carry on the business of building said 
meeting-house." This third meeting-house was raised in the 
spring of the next year, 1770, giving twenty-six years for the 
existence of the second meeting-house, and sixty-two years for 



47 

the third, as that was removed to make way for the present 
house in 1832. In the autumn of 1771, Nov. 15, Ensign EH- 
sha Blin was appointed first Chorister, Fisk Beach the second, 
and Miles Norton the third, at a regular town meeting. 

I would here stop to speak of certain appendages, to that 
meeting-house, and to many others in the coui;try at that day. 
They were called Sabbath day houses, or noon houses. The 
object of these houses, was to furnish the owners of them, and 
such of their friends as they were disposed to invite, with a 
warm retreat, in winter, during the interval between forenoon 
and afternoon public services. And we must bear in mind that 
at that day, a stove in a meeting-house was a thing unknown, 
and unthought of. These houses generally consisted of two 
rooms, ten or twelve feet square, with a chimney in the cen- 
ter between them, and a fire-place in each room. They were 
generally built at the united expense of two, or more families. 
Dry fuel was kept in each house, ready for kindling a fire. On 
the morning of the Sabbath, the owner of each room deposited 
in his saddle-bags the necessary refreshment for himself and 
family, and a bottle of beer, or cider, and took an early start 
for the sanctuary. He first called at his Sabbath day house, 
built him a fire, deposited his lunceon, warmed himself and 
family, and at the hour of worship, they were all ready to 
sally forth, and to shiver in the cold, during the morning ser- 
vices, at the house of worship. At noon they returned to their 
Sabbath houses, with some invited friends, perhaps, where 
a warm room received them : the fire having been in 
operation during the morning exercises. The saddle-bags 
were now brought forth, and their contents discharged upon a 
Prophet's table, of which all partook a little, and each in turn 
drank at the bottle. This service being performed, and 
thanks returned, the Patriarch of the family, drew from his 
pocket the notes he had taken during the morning service, and 
the sermon came under renewed, and distinct consideration, 
all enjoying the utmost freedom in their remarks. Sometimes 
a well chosen chapter, or paragraph was read from an author, 
and the service was not unfrequent'y concluded by prayer ; 



48 

then all I'etui'ned to the sanctuary to seek a blessing there. If 
the cold was severe, the family might return to their house to 
warm them, before they sought their habitation. The fire 
was then extinguished, the saddle-bags and the fragments were 
gathered up, the house locked, and all returned to their home, 
there were no less than four of these houses standing around 
the third meeting-house at once, three on the North side of 
the road. West of the present blacksmith's shop, and one South, 
by the town post between the brick school-house, and H. N. 
Lyman's store. The Sabbath house that stood by the present 
town post, was owned by Deacon Moses Lyman, and Capt. 
Jonathan Buel, father of the present Capt. Jonathan Buel, 
The one farthest East, on the North, was owned by Dea. 
Ebenezer Norton, and his brother Samuel Norton. The next 
West of them was owned by Dea. Nathaniel Baldwin, and 
Samuel Baldwin, and the third was owned by Nehemiah 
Lewis, and Adna Bsach. 

I am now in the history of the town, 1772, when a road was 
laid out, directly West from the meeting-house, to Elisha 
Thompson's house, standing near the present cider mill of Ira 
Thompson. 

We will now very cheerfully give the Ladies of Goshen a 
place in our history, since they did at the time, we are now 
speaking of demonstrate, that some things could be done then, 
as well as at other times. There arose a spinning-match, 
among the young married ladies, at the house of Nehemiah 
Lewis, the late residence of Samuel D. Street. The trial 
was at the foot- wheel, in spinning linen. The conditions were 
previously defined, and agreed to, viz : They might spin during 
the whole twjnty-four hours if they chose. They were to 
have their distaffs prepared for them, and their yarn reeled 
by others. Upon the first trial, at Lews' house many did 
well. The Vv'ife of Stephen Tuttlc spun five runs, which were 
equal to two and a half days' labour, when on hire. Several 
others spun four runs each ; but Mrs. Tuttle came off victor. 
But this aroused the ambition of srme of the unmarried ladies, 
and Lydia Beach, the daughter of Dea. Edmund Beach, of 



49 

East-street, was the first to come forward, and take up the 
gauntlet. She spun from early dawn to nine o'clock in the 
evening. She had her distaffs prepared, her yarn reeled, and 
her food put into her miuth. Slio spun in this time, seven 
runs, three and a half days' labour, and took the wreath from- 
the brow of Mrs. Tuttlc.* Upon hearing of the exploit of Miss 
Beach, the wife of Capt. Isaac Pratt, of the South part of the 
town, came upon the arena. Between early dawn, and the 
setting of the sun, she had actually spun six runs, but at this 
moment, her husband interfered, and peremptorily forbade her 
proceeding further. She sat down, and wept like a child, when 
she ought to have rejoiced, that she possessed a husband, in 
whose eyes her future health and happiness were more pre- 
cious, than the brief applause which might arise from success 
in that contest. 

The hand of Miss Lydia was sought in marriage, by the 
young, and aspiring Jesse Buel, son of Capt. Jonathan Buel, 
and she was led to the hymenial altar, while her garland was 
yet fresh upon her brow ; but the doating husband was destined 
to see it wither down to the grave, for Lydia never enjoyed . 
health from the hour of her triumph. 

But I must return to graver subjects. Times had now be- 
come dark in these colonies, by reason of the cloud that hung 
over them, portending an explosion, that would convulse the 
old, and new world. In the last French war, which was ter- 
minated in 1763, the English nation had learned more of the 
moral and physical powers of the colonies, than she had ever 
before known ; and having meditated for a hundred years, on 
th3 plan of depriving the cobn'es of ther chartarad rights, and 
rendering them vassals of the crown, she felt the necessity of 
asserting her rights, and enforcing her claims, before the colo- 
nies should become any more formidable, than they then were. 
And as she knew that her loyal subjects in America had ex- 
hausted their treasures, and poured out their blood, as free as 
water, to sustain the cause of their mother country, and their 

• Some of our Matrons say, that ten runs were a week's labor ; if so, Miss 
Lydia performed the labour of four days, and one fifth of a day in one day. 
7 



50 

own cause against their common enemy, she thought that a 
favorable moment to enforce the right she claimed to tax the 
colonies in all cases whatever, without representation or con- 
sent. Accordingly, as soon as she had concluded a treaty with 
France, she voted taxes upon these colonies. But almost uni- 
versally was her right to do so denied, and her oppressive acts 
repudiated, and resisted. 

For about twelve years, matters were growing to a crisis, 
Massachusetts leading in the opposition. In 1774, British 
troops were sent over to Boston to quell all opposition to Brit- 
ish exactions, which produced great sensation in the colonies. 
And although the British crown professed to have no contro- 
versy with her colonies, except Massachusetts, hoping thereby 
to divide the colonies in the approaching contest, yet all had 
the sagacity to see that they must all ultimately stand or fall 
with Massachusetts, and they agi-eed to take part with her. 
Delegates from different colonies were sent to Philadelphia in 
September, 1774, to form a Congress of the Colonies, to con- 
sult, to devise plans, and to afford mutual aid in executing 
them. It was while this first Congress was in session, Sept. 
20th, 1774, that this town chose a Committee to correspond 
with Committees of county and colony, " relating to the pres- 
ent alarming situation of our affairs in North America." It 
will be recollected that this first Congress addressed the in- 
habitants of the several colonies in a circular stating what they 
had done, the right they had so to do, with the necessity ex- 
isting in the case, and calling upon all to unite in support of 
these measures. We find the response of this town to this 
address, bearing date Dec. 12th, 1774, at a regular town 
meeting. The resolution is patriotic and well-expressed : 
Voted, " that the resolves and declarations concerning the Hb- 
erties of the several governments in North America, come into 
by said Congress, are just, and founded in the law of God, of 
Nature, the English Constitution, and the particular privi- 
leges granted to the several colonies aforesaid, by their 
respective charters ; and this town will use their utmost en- 
deavors in all lawful ways, to secure and defend the same to 



51 

ourselves, and hand the same down to the latest posterity $ 
and that we approve and acquiesce in the associational agree* 
msnt come into by said Congress, and resolve to keep the 
same inviolate ourselves, and use our true endeavors that oth- 
ers shall do the same " ! This was meeting the exigencies of 
the times — the true spirit of the Revolution, and the pledge 
here given was fully redeemed by the people of this town. It 
is the opinion of the aged men of this town, that several men 
from Goshen were on the heights of Charlestown, in 1775, at 
the ever memorable battle of Bunker Hill ; but they are not cer- 
tain of more than one individual, and he was John North. 
This individual was one of Col. Arnold's men, who that same 
season marched through the entire wilderness lying between 
Quebec in Canada, and the shore of the present State of Maine. 
The object of this expedition was to meet Generals Mont- 
gomery and Schuyler from the way of Lake Champlain and 
Montreal, at the City of Quebec, and to take that important 
place by storm. The march of Arnold through that wilder- 
ness was a bold and rash undertaking, and his men suffered 
every thing but death. Thirty-two days were they in that 
wilderness without seeing a house or any thing human ; nor 
would the Canadians have been more surprised perhaps, had 
they seen these men fall from the clouds, than they were when 
they saw them come from the wilderness of Maine. But the 
expedition was a failure ; Montgomery fell in the assault upon 
the town ; Col. Arnold was wounded, and some of his men 
taken prisoners. The remnant of the army retreated about 
three miles from the city, and entered into winter quarters. 
There were no less than twenty-eight men from this town at 
the assault on Quebec in 1775, at the time Montgomery fell, 
twenty-seven marched by the Lake Champlain, and John 
North by Kennebec, under Col. Arnold. But no one fell in 
battle belonging to this town, that year, 1775. The news of 
the disaster at Quebec having reached Congress, great exer- 
tions were made to recruit the army in Canada, in the winter 
of 1776. Twenty men enlisted in this town to recruit the 
army near Quebec. Ten of these men were in the company 



52 

of Captain Titus Watson, of Norfolk, and ten in the company 
of Captain Luther Stoddard of Salisbury. Captain Stoddard's 
compainy commenced their march on the first day of February, 
and arrived in camp the first day of March. Captain Watson's 
company arrived shortly after. Of these twenty men, six- 
teen had the small pox in the natural way. Three of them 
died of this disease, one of pleurisy, two of the camp distemper, 
and one of them, George Dear, who lived on Whist Pond Hill, 
was killed by a cannon ball on Lake Champlain, cut almost in 
two in the middle ; so that there were seven of the twenty 
dead before the year had expired for which they were enlis- 
ted. But one of these twenty men is with us to-day — Mr. 
Ambrose Collins. This same year, 1776, Stephen Goodwin of 
East-street was appointed Captain, and he - enlisted sixty 
men, fifty of whom belong to Goshen. They enlisted for six 
months to go to New York. Four of Captain Goodwin's men 
died oi sickness. One was taken prisoner after being wounded, 
and was never more heard of. At one time, this same season 
all the able bodied men in the two Militia companies in this 
town were in the camp at or near New York. They were 
commanded by Medad Hills at the taking of New York city 
by the British. So that there could not have been less than 
one hundred and twenty soldiers in camp from this town a 
considerable part of the summer and autumn of 1776. Cap- 
tain Jonathan Buel, of this town, and now present, was at 
Long Island, and New York ; and at the time our troops evac- 
uated Long Island, on the night of the 28th July, 1776, these 
withered arms, then full and vigorous impelled a boat six times 
across the sound full of soldiers. It was dark, and no man 
was permitted to speak a loud word. It ought to be mentioned 
likewise, that Theodore Parmele, son of Abraham Parmele, 
commanded a company of horse in this campaign at New 
York. But after all the exertions of the Americans, their 
affairs wore a gloomy aspect at the close of the campaign in 
1776. The British arms seemed everywhere to prevail, and 
many in the colonies were desponding. But this town adopted 
energetic measures to raise troops for a renewal of the cam- 



63 

paign in 1777. At a public town meeting, April 1st, 1777, it 
was voted to raise the quota of men demanded of this town. 
The select men were authorized to pay a bounty of ten pounds 
lawful money, for every enUstment for one year, and in case 
a soldier enhsted for a second year before his return, he should 
be paid another ten pounds, for a bounty, and the same sum 
for a third enlistment, and the treasurer of the town was au- 
thorized to hire money to defray those expenses. A com- 
mittee was appointed to supply the families of the soldiers, if 
they had them, with necessaries in the absence of those men. 
How many enlisted upon those conditions, it is not known, the 
names of seven are recollected. It was at this time the Brit- 
ish sent a detachment from New York to destroy the public 
store 3 at Danbury. The news of this reached this place on the 
Sabbath, and a number of volunteers set out immediately to 
meet the enemy, but they had retreated before our men 
arrived, and the volunteers returned to their homes. The 
same spring there was a draft upon the Militia at Litchfield, 
Torrington and Goshen for a company to go to Peekskill, on 
the River Hudson. A number of Goshen men helped com- 
pose this company. There was another draft on Goshen for 
men to go to Peekskill in Sept. of this year, the object of which 
was to prevent the British passing up the river to the assistance 
of Burgoyne and his army. So many as ten names of those who 
went from this town on that expedition, are now recollected 
by the aged men. The same month, this year, there was a 
call for men to go to the assistance of General Gates, who was 
opposing the march of Burgoyne, towards Albany, on North 
River. This was an inspiring subject. The lion whose march 
had been stately, and whose roar had carried dismay to the 
hearts of the people, was now in the toils, and there was an 
animating hope, that if efforts were made corresponding to 
the magnitude of the object, he might be taken, and the coun- 
try saved from further ravages by him. A town meeting was 
called, Sept. 25, 1777, and a bounty of five pounds was voted 
to every man who would enlist for that expedition, and a Com- 
mittee was raised to supply at the expense of the town, every 



64 

non-commissioned officer and soldier in the Continental army, 
with one shirt, either linen or woolen, one hunting frock, one 
pair over-alls, one or two pair of stockings, and one pair of 
good shoes, and deliver them to the commissary. Men with 
great readiness enlisted for this service, and a good number 
marched forthwith for the camp. The names of thirteen of 
this company are still retained. These men were in nearly all 
the hard fighting preceeding the surrender of the Royal army, 
and as many as two of them are before us to-day, Capt Jona- 
than Buel and Ambrose Collins ! Yes, their eyes saw that 
very General Burgoyne of whom we read, surrender his 
sword to the American commander, and his troops lay down 
their arms, the very troops with which he promised the Par- 
liament of England to subdue the colonies ! This was a joy- 
ful day tc America ! It was the ray of hope that penetrates 
and illuminates the dark cell of despondency — the life-boat 
that comes to the shipwrecked mariner. The news was car- 
ried as on angels' winss, and it inspired every friend of his 
country with hope and fresh resolutions. As an illustration 
of the feelings of many others, I will relate an anecdote I re- 
ceived a few days since from an aged individual now present, 
but who cannot hear one word of what is now spoken. He 
went out in the autumn of 177G, as one of ninetj^ men on board 
a Privateer, Capt. Day, of Massachusetts. They were gone 
one full year, took eleven prizes, entered St. George's Channel, 
went in sight of Bristol, put in at a port in France, and re- 
turned in Dec, 1777. As they approached the American 
continent, they took some prizes, and their prisoners related 
to them the successes of Burgoyne's army, and gave it as their 
belief, that at that time the colonies were conquered, and all 
the ports in New England in possession of the British. As it 
was a matter of reality with their prisoners, their own hearts 
sunk within them ! The thought of returning to their beloved 
country, now humbled and subdued, waiting to receive the 
portion that their enemies should deal out to them, was almost 
overpowering. The Captain concluded to lie off for a time, 
east of Boston harbor, and see if he could not gain some in» 



55 

formation from passing ships, concerning his safety in entering 
that port. But no ships appearing, he concluded to run up 
near the fort which guards the harbor, and if it was in the 
possession of the British, he concluded he should hear from 
them in season to make his escape, or to humble himself in the 
agonies of his country. They approached the fort without 
molestation, and entered the harbor. As they entered, they 
saw the tents of an army pitched on Bunker Hill. They in- 
quired of the first small craft that passed them, " what tents 
those were on Bunker Hill ? " The response came buoyant 
upon the waters, " Burgoyne's army, all prisoners of war !" 
The old gentleman added in an emotion I never shall forget 
" That was the pleasantest sight my eyes ever beheld " ! This 
aged man is Francis Beach, of this town, aged 83. 

We cannot tell the average number of soldiers from this 
town in 1777, as some were in one enlistment and some in 
another ; some with one army, and some with another ; but 
we cannot estimate them less than fifty. One or two more 
anecdotes, and I must dismiss the campaign of 1777. Am- 
brose Collins was one of six men who went on to the assist- 
ance of the army, under General Gates, before there was the 
call for volunteers. And he was in the fiercest part of the 
battle, on the 7th of October, where the left wing of the 
American army under General Arnold, engaged with the right 
wing of the British army, commanded by Burgoyne in person. 
This battle lasted most of the day, and was not suspended 
until the dusk of the evening. The dead and wounded of 
both armies, lay promiscuously together ; for the same ground 
had been taken and retaken repeatedly, and many were the 
wounded, the dying, and the dead. Just at dusk, Cyprian 
Collins, the father of Ambrose, arrived as a volunteer at the 
field of battle. As would naturally be the case, he first sought 
for his son Ambrose, but not finding him readily among the 
living, he turned his attention to the dead on the field of bat- 
tle. He soon found a corpse which he thought must be his 
son. He went, and got him a torch light, and examined it 
more perfectly, and concluded it was Ambrose, and with feel- 



58 

ings, such as a father only can know, he was in the act of re- 
moving the body for burial, when Ambrose came up to him* 
and addressed him " father," in the well known voice of his 
son ! We may imagine the emotions of father, and son in this 
interview. 

I ought here to mention that the late Colonel Moses Lyman, 
then a lieutenant in a company of militia belonging to this 
town, arrived at Saratoga on the evening of the memorable 
7th, having in command some volunteers from this town, and 
some others who fell in with them while on their march for 
the field of battle. Lyman was well known to many of the 
officers in camp, as he had been on several expeditions of this 
kind, especially to Long Island, and New York, in 1776, and 
to Peekskill, in 1777 ; and he was put in command of a com- 
pany, of observation, during the night of the 7th, to watch the 
movements of Burgoyne, to see whether he would advancci 
or recede from the position, which he held at the close of the 
action. It will be recollected, that the sentinels of the two 
hostile armies, were stationed near each other, and might have 
hailed, and challenged each other. But no movement was dis- 
covered in the British camp during the night. Soon after the 
dawning of the 8th, Lyman marched out with his men, in view 
©f the British camp, expecting that his appearance would pro- 
voke some kind of movement on the part of the enemy, but 
there was none. He advanced nearer, and as he saw no ene- 
my, and no human being, except the slain, or wounded on the 
field of battle, he continued to advance, until he came to their 
deserted tents, and found no persons within, but the wounded 
and dead. He was the first to inform General Gates, that the 
enemy had deserted their camp, and had taken another posi- 
tion, nothing more secure ; for indeed at that time, there was 
no asylum for the unhappy Burgoyne, whose fate resembled 
that of the victim, who is almost suffocated, and is ready to be 
broken under the contracting and tortuous folds of the Ana- 
conda. There was no year of the war, after the surrender of 
Burgoyne's army in which so many soldiers were furnished by 
Gioshen^ as in 1776, and 1777, unless it was in 1779, at the in- 



57 

vasion of New Haven, and Fairfield, when many volunteered 
to repel the invasion, but as the British soon retired, the sol- 
diers soon returned. But all the demands of the Congress and 
of the colony were promptly met in furnishing men for the 
Continental army, and the Connecticut line ; and from year to 
year, town meetings were held to raise men and money and 
to lay taxes to defray all expenses. I have thirteen names, 
now recollected, of men who entered the Continental army 
after 1777, most of whom enlisted during the war. John 
Norton, fourth son of David Norton, was at the execution of 
Major Andre, in 1780, at Tappan, was one of the guard 
and stood so near the unfortunate man as to hear all that was 
said. 

And that this town was true to her first, vote of adherence 
to the voice of Congress, and to the cause of her country, I 
will give a vote of the town, passed June 29, 1780, when the 
seat of war had passed from the North to the South, where the 
final blow was struck, which decided the long contested ques- 
tion of our Independence. "Voted to give to each able bodied, 
effective soldier to the number of ten, (which is the Quota 
now demanded of this town,) who shall by the 29th day of July 
next, enlist into the Continental battaUon for three years, or 
during the war, so as to be allowed towards our quota, now 
demanded, shall be entitled to a bounty, over and above all 
public bounties and wages, to be paid out of the Treasury of 
this town, the sum of twelve jjoimds, silver money, or in other 
money equivalent thereto, for each six months they shall serve 
in said battalion, to be paid out at the end of each six months ; 
and in the same proportion for a less time at forty shillings per 
month." To this bounty they added ten shillings per month 
before the meeting adjourned, and voted the same to those 
who had enlisted since the first day of April, and to all who 
should enlist bsfore the first day of September. 

Just let us look at the magnitude of this vote, for a small 
town oppressed -with other taxes. We will take the number 
ten, the least number specified for three years. Their bounty 



58 

will amount to 2400 dollars, and if the war continued five 
years, and they continued in service, their bounty would 
amount to 4000 dollars. But it seems that other soldiers had 
enhsted, and it was expected and hoped that more would en- 
list before September ; yet all were to share the same ! I 
ask, do we see any thing like this devotion to comitry now ? 
Nothing like it ; I say, nothing. And yet when we speak of 
deterioration in their sons, both in moral principle and in true 
magnanimity of spirit and patriotism, we are almost denounc- 
ed as defamers, and more in love with antiquity, than with the 
" spirit of the times." But facts will speak for themselves, 
and they will speak in louder accents, the further we go from 
the generations that have passed away. It is my full conviction 
that the generations which took possession of this wilderness, 
repelled the assaults of the ferociou 5 inhabitants, destroyed the 
beasts of prey, subdued the forest, broke the tough soil, and 
then defended it by two long and bloody wars at the expense 
of ease, wealth and blood, were such as the same world pro- 
duces but once, and that we are not to expect to see their like 
again ! There will be a holier generation, a happier genera- 
tion, but they will not be prepared by a holy Providence to do 
the things that were done by the Pilgrims of New England, 
and their immediate successors. Nor do we speak of these 
men only, but their mothers, their wives, and their daughters 
were like them. They were worthy of such men, worthy of 
our gratitude, and worthy of our eulogies. They sustained 
their full share in all the trials and dangers of the Ocean, of 
the wilderness, and of war ! Their courage in times of peril, 
and their fortitude in trials never forsook them ! They gave 
up their husbands and their sons for the cause of God and 
their country, and their example was all powerful. And this 
was true, not only of Pilgrim women, but of women in 
the Revolution. This town possessed them. I will give 
one instance of this, that it may be a memorial of her. Abra- 
ham Parmele was a warm patriot in the Revolution, and 
shrunk not from any demand of him ; but in this, it is said, he 



f 



59 

was thrown into the shade by the patriotism of his wife, Mary 
Stanley that was. She was fixed in the righteousness of the 
cause of the Colonies, and when war broke out, she said they 
would prevail ! She said she could pray for the cause of 
America; and not in the darkest period of the conflict, wh(»n 
many faces were pale, aud many hands were on their loins, 
did this woman's confidence fail her in the least, and her actions 
corresponded with her words. Four diflferent times did she 
fit out her own son Theodore, for the battle field, and gave 
him her parting blessing ; and with her own hands did she 
make five soldier's blankets, not to sell, but sent them a present 
to the poor soldiers, who after the battles of the day, had 
neither bed, nor covering for the night. Could soldiers, thus 
sustained, ever relinquish the cause of their Country ? Never. 

I mentioned in the course of the narration that George 
Dear of this town, who lived on the North side of Whist Pond 
Hill, was killed by a cannon ball on Lake Champlain, in the 
war of the Revolution. He and Timothy Gaylord of West 
Street, who was killed in the old French war, were the only 
persons of this town who were ever known to have been killed 
in battle since the settlement of the town. This is to bs 
acknowledged with thankfulness to Him who saveth from 
death in the day of battle, whilst we at this distance of time, 
mourn for the fallen of our towns-men, and would sympathise 
with the bereaved. 

But although so few fell in battle, yet many were the dead 
of this town. Sickness was the great destroyer of our soldiers. 
I cannot ascertain the number of those who died of sickness, 
but they were many. The Campaign of 1776 was very fatal 
to our men. A number were taken away by the small pox, 
and still more by the camp distemper. Especially was this 
true of the soldiers who went that year to New York and 
Long Island. A number died in Camp : others were dismissed 
on account of sickness, and died while they were striving to 
reach their home. Abraham Beach, and Martin Beach, cousins, 
and both Grand-sons of Deacon John Beach of East Street, 
reached Milford in this State, but there;; died, and one grave 



eo 

received them. Thomas Lucas, a young man of 27 years, and 
of great promise to this town, left New York with this disease 
upon him. His friends heard of his condition, and Allen Lucas, 
his brother, and the Father of Olive and David Lucas, went 
out to meet him and bring him in. The brothers met under 
affecting circumstances. Thomas says to Allen, " Brother I 
am glad to see you, I hope I shall live to get home, and not die 
under the fence as some do." He reached his home and died 
in ten days ! Oh, what distresses did that cruel war of eight 
years bring upon this infant nation ! They are written and 
most of them sealed up for the great day, and we must repress 
all further desire to break the seal, and to read the Book at 
this time. 

From the acknowledgment of the Independence of these 
States in 1783, by England and other nations, our town and 
country have held on the even tenor of their way, and it has 
been prosperous with occasional interruptions. The war of 
1812 brought its calamities, but it was maintained in a manner so 
different from the wars preceding it, and was so exclusively in 
the hands of Congress, that towns in the interior, as towns, did 
little more than pay their taxes, and read their News-papers. 
The public records will tell all the story to the generations to 
come. 

I will here state that during the war of the Revolution there 
were three Pest houses established in this town,wherein persons 
were inoculated with the small pox. One on Whist Pond hill, 
one about half a mile East of Robert Palmer's, and one where 
Timothy Wadhams now lives. Li this last house one patient 
was lost, by the name of Joel Davis, as I learn from the old 
men. 

The question often arises, was this town ever the permanent 
residence of Indians ? And this question may have arisen in 
the minds of many on hearing of houses here, fortified in the 
early settlement. I think we have no sufficient evidence to 
convince us that a tribe of Indians was ever permanently estab- 
lished here. Their camps, when located from choice and 
not from necessity, were found on soft, and dry soil, in vallies 
and upon the banks of streams and rivers, where they might 



Gl 

raise corn and pulse in the use of such implements as they 
possessed, and where they might take fish. This town was 
not adapted to their necessities, like the towns of Farmington, 
New MilfordjOr the bottom lands on the Housatonjcin general. 
But that they visited this place for hunting m certahi seasons 
of the year, is beyond a question. None can doubt that these 
hills and vallies wero. once well stocked with such meats as the 
Indian craves for his food, and with such furs as he needed for 
clothing and for trade. Moose, Bear, Deer, Beaver, Otter, 
Mink, and Muskrats would resort hither when it was no 
longer safe for them to appear in the valleys below. Many of 
these animals were abundant in the town at its settlement. 
Within the memory of one now present, Jacob Beach of the 
North part of the town, took in traps and by other means, 
seventeen bears in one year. Samuel Wilcox killed sixteen 
another year. Said Beach lulled four wolves in one year, and 
took £16 bounty for their heads, Francis Beach relates that 
he has seen four deer at once, and at another time three wolves, 
and that it was no uncommon thing for him to fall in with a 
bear in his rambles in the woods, and sometimes they were 
destructive to their fields of wheat and corn, and sometimes to 
their herds of swine. And we have repeated mention made 
in our Town records, of bounties given for killing wolves, and 
of fines collected for killing deer contrary to law. Now would 
Indians suffer these dainties to fatten here and perish, and they 
not regale themselves on this savory meat, or line their jackets 
with the furs at the approach of winter ? Impossible ! Be- 
sides, Indian arrow heads, and other equipments for the chase, 
have been found in great abundance in this place, especially 
on the sides of the hills and in the valleys between the dwelling 
of Capt. Timothy Collins, and the wadow Lucy Street ; 
also in the vicinity of each of the ponds at the west end of the 
town. At the North-west side of Dog Pond, on a high and dry 
point of land, some distance from the pond, there were found 
in the early settlement of the town, large quantities of mus- 
cle shells, that had been taken from the pond, carried there, 
and their contents feasted upon by the Indians. Moses Cook, 



62 

senior, lias ploughed through them, and thinks their fertilizing 
qualities may be traced in the vegetation to the present day. 
And, indeed, the practice of Old Whist coming from Farming- 
ton every year after the tow^n was settled to spend the milder 
part of the season around his favorite pond, until like thousands 
of others, he lost his life in the pursuit of pleasure, teaches us 
that Goshen was the Indian's summer Elysium : That hither 
came the newly wedded pair, to meet newly acquired connex- 
ions, to be introduced, to compare agility and strength, and to 
rejoice in all the gifts of nature ! But although this was not 
the permanent residence of the Indian, this might not preclude 
the necessity of fortifying houses against an Indian foe. For 
if once aroused by the demon spirit of war, he went through 
the wilderness like a spirit, and in the moment of falling upon 
his prey he crouched like a leopard, he bounded from his copse, 
and the unprotected fell a sacrifice to his ferocity ! I suppose 
some of my little friends, the little boys and girls, will wish me 
to tell them some things about the condition of their schools 
and school-houses in those early days of our ancestors. I 
must do it in few words. The Government of the Colony 
granted to the town one right of land, the use of which was to 
be forever appropriated to the benefit of schools. But such 
was the pressure of the times, and such the state of the roads 
for many years, but little was done to furnish competent in- 
struction for children. An old gentleman of eighty-three years, 
told me a few days ago, that while under age, he never had 
lived nearer a school house than four and a half miles, and that 
he never attended school a day in his life : but his mother 
taught him to read and write some, and he applied himself, and 
thus saved him from the calamity of knowing nothing. The 
first school house that was ever built in this town, stood about 
ten rods North-east of the dwelling house of Thomas Gris- 
wold, near the corner on your left, as you cross the meadow 
and turn south to go to Mr. Griswold's house. The second 
house, and built nearly the same time, stood twenty rods 
south from the house of Mr. Street, late deceased. From 



63 

this time school districts were organized, one after anothei-, 
and school houses were built until all were supplied as at this 
day. Children, be mindful of your present advantages, im- 
prove them as faithfully as did the old Gentleman to whom I 
referred, and you may be happy and useful in life. 

It is said, the following is a list of clergymen born in this 
town. Noah Wadhams, Elisha Parmele, Reuben Parmele, 
Luther Hart, Darius O. Griswold, Abraham Baldwin, Theron 
Baldwin, William Thompson, Orlo Bartholomew, Ephraim 
Lyman, Mark Ives, John F. Norton, and Augustus C. Thomp- 
son — thirteen. The following Physicians were born in this 
town, Joseph North, senior, Gideon Thompson, Isaac Humph- 
rey, Daniel Lyman, Hunn Beach, Isaac Pratt, Westal Wil- 
oughby, Elisha North, Joseph North, Jr., Ethel North, Ezekiel 
North, Stephen Stanley, Daniel Goodwin, Horace V. Beach, 
Henry Denison, William Denison, Alfred C. Thomson, Silas 
Wright, Albert Wright, Isaac H. Brown, — twenty. Judges,' 
Samuel Lyman, Birdsey Norton, Moses Lyman, Augustus 
Baldwin, John Newton, Orson Oviatt, Van R. Humphrey — 
seven. Samuel Lyman was second son of Dea. Moses lay- 
man, a graduate of Yale College, a lawyer in the city of Hart- 
ford, succeeded the late Governor at the head of the Pay- 
table office in this State, removed to Springfield, Mass., was 
a member of Congress a number of years, and died while sus- 
taining the office of judge in that State. Lawyers, Joab Gris- 
wold, Theodore Sill, Ebenezer F. Norton, Darius Lyman, 
Theodore North, Birdsey Baldwin, Marcus Humphrey, Eb- 
enezer Newton, Daniel Raymond, and David Raymond — ten. 
Men who have received the honors of College, but have not 
entered into a Profession, are Solomon Wadhams, Truman 
Starr, Ephraim Starr, Frederick A. Norton, Willard Wad- 
ams, and Theodore S. Gold — six. We have had two Gen- 
erals of the Militia, David Thompson, and Moses Cook, Jr. 

I shall now give a concise but connected view of the ec- 
clesiastical concerns of this Church and Society, and with 
this I shall dismiss my statistics. 

The Church in this place was organized, Nov, 1740, and 
the Rev. Stephen Heaton was ordained at the same time Pas- 



64 

tor. He continued to sustain that relation until June, 1755. 
He was then dismissed from his charge, and the Rev. Abel 
Newell was settled over the Church and people on the 2d 
Tuesday of June, 1755. He sustained this relation until Jan- 
uary 30th, 1781. He was then dismissed, and the Rev. Jo- 
siah Sherman installed their Pastor in the summer of 1782. 
He sustained this relation but about seven years, and was 
dismissed in the sprmg of 1789. Sept. 7th, 1791, Rev. Asahel 
Hooker was ordained their Pastor, and from this period we 
can avail ourselves of Church Records. Previous to this, all 
our information relative to ecclesiastical concerns is derived 
from the T«jwn Records, or private writings of individuals, or 
the recollection of aged people. We cannot therefore say 
much of revivals or ingatherings into the Church prior to the 
settlement of Mr. Hooker ; but quite a number were received 
under the Ministry of Mr. Sherman, and some were excluded 
from the Church. It was a day of trouble in Israel. At the 
time when Mr. Hooker was ordained, the Church consisted of 
111 members, nor was there more than an ordinary enlarge- 
ment, until 1799, when 72 were received. That year this 
Church and people experienced wonderful measures of grace ! 
The Lord was coming down to revive the work of 1736 to 
1745 in New England, and it pleased him to visit this place. 
From all I can learn of it, it was the greatest work of grace 
ever experienced in this town. I have observed that the old 
people, and those who were savingly wrought upon at that 
time, can seldom speak of it but with meltings of heart, and with 
a kind of awe in view of the power and grace of God, which 
they witnessed and felt. There was another revival in 1807, 
wliich added to the church twenty-five. In 1808, thirty more 
were added, the revival being continued into that year. Mr. 
Hooker took his dismission from th^s Church and people, Jmie 
12th, 1810, and the Rev. Joseph Harvey succeeded him in this 
charge, Oct. 24th, 1810, and continued his Ministry nearly 
fifteen years. He was dismissed Sept., 1825. During the 
Ministry of Mr. Harvey, two seasons of revival were experi- 
enced. In the year 1816, twenty were added to the Church, 



65 

and in 1821, forty more were added, February 1st, 1826, 
Rev. Francis H. Case was ordained Pastor of this Church 
and people. Mr. Case sustained his relation to this Church 
and people two years and a half, and was dismissed, Sept 30th, 
1828. In this time a revival of religion was enjoyed which 
brought in sixty-two persons. In 1828, the Congregational 
Church in the North part of this town was organized, and 
thirty persons were dismissed from this Church to help con- 
stitute that. By reason of this, and on account of previous 
subtractions by Baptist and Methodist denominations at the 
North and West, this Ecclesiastical Society does not embrace 
more than one-third part of the number of the inhabitants, that 
it did in 1791. The present incumbent in office was installed 
Pastor, August 27th, 1829. The Church consists of 139 
members, forty Males, and ninety -nine Females. Sixty-nine 
of these have been added since 1829. Thirty of these were 
received as the fruit of a revival in 1831, and ten of a 
brief revival in 1835. 489 Persons have been members 
of this Church since 1791. 350 are removed by death 
or otherwise. The greater portion took letters of 
commendation to Churches in the West. There have been 
seventy baptisms in the last nine years. In regard to Meet- 
ing houses, I would state, that the first house by the Old Ash 
Tree, was improved occasionally by the people for worship 
five years, from 1739 to 1744. The 2d, the Old Yellow house, 
with double galleries, served them twenty-six years, from 1 744 
to 1770. The 3d house, which was removed to make way 
for this, sixty-two years from 1770 to 1832, and this has stood 
six years. Sixteen persons have sustained the office of Dea- 
con in this Church. John Beach, Gideon Thomson, and Na- 
thaniel Baldwin were the three first Deacons from 1740. 
Moses Lyman succeeded Dea Gideon Thomson, who died, 
May, 1759. Samuel Nash succeeded Dea. Nathaniel Baldwin, 
who died 1760. Ebenezer Norton succeeded Dea. Moses 
Lyman, who died 1768. Edmund Beach succeeded his Father, 
Dea. John Beach, who died, 1773. Stephen Thomson suc- 
ceeded Dea. Ebenezer Norton, who died 1784, Samuel Nor- 
9 



66 

ton succeeded the resignation ofDea. Stephen Thomson, 1798. 
Nathan Hale and Jesse Stanley succeeded Deacons Edmund 
Beach and Samuel Nash, both resigning on account of infirmi- 
ty of years, 1800. Daniel Norton succeeded Dea. Nathan 
Hale, deceased, 1811. Henry Hart succeeded Dea. Daniel 
Norton, deceased 1815. Augustus Thomson succeeded Dea. 
Samuel Norton, resigned on account of infirmity, 1817. 
George Stanley succeeded Dea. Augustus Thomson, removed 
to Norwich, 1831. Lewis M. Norton succeeded Dea. Henry 
Hart, removed to Illinois, 1835. Here I promised to suspend 
my statement of statistics. I do it amidst a profusion of inte- 
resting facts. I do it with no ordinary sacrifice of feeling, but 
absolutely, my strength and your patience can endure no 
longer. But I offer a reflection. 

What a revealer of secrets is time ! How remote from the 
minds of our Fathers were the leading events of the last Cen- 
tury, when they came up from Old Bantam to the New, and 
entered this wilderness ! What mighty changes have taken 
place in the face of Nature here ! What revolutions, in our po- 
litical relations and our civil institutions ! And not only in ours, 
but in every civilized nation upon earth ! And not less impor- 
tant have been the changes in the aspect of Science, Litera- 
ture, and Religion ! As we now contemplate the relative po- 
sition of our Fathers in regard to time and events, they seem 
to have stood in the birth-place of nations, and as they were 
called to sympathize in the throes of nature to produce her 
largest gifts for a world, so they participated in the joy of the 
free and the blessed. But all these things were in the counsels 
of Him who hath the end from the beginning, and with whom 
there is nothing new. But this view of the subject teaches us 
how little we know of the future, and how great may be the 
vicissitudes through which we and our children may be called 
to pass ! Another revolution is in motion. Nature again 
travails, and whether the result will be for the weal or woe 
of the present generation of men is known only to him who 
holds the destinies of all in his hands. One thing is certain, 
we must go the way of our Fathers. We already stand above 
their ashes^Ue^Cfevery memorial of theirs preaches to us the 



67 

brevity of life, its emptiness, and the all importance of a saving 
interest in Jesus Christ. Let us hear with all readiness, the 
instructions of God's word, and of these merciful monitors, 
and hearing, may we obey ! May we like our fathers, not 
only provide Gospel instruction for ourselves, but for our de- 
scendants likewise : and like them, may we strive to lead our 
wives and children into the Ark of safety. Then, when 
another shall here address that far distant generation on an 
occasion like the present, although we are dead, and our 
children are dead, may both we and they be triumphantly 
happy : triumphantly glorious. 



APPENDIX. 



The hard winter of 1 779 and 80, as given by the old people of the town, 
and authenticated by some manuscript papers. — The severity of this winter 
set in about Dec. 20, 1779, and more or less snow fell forty successive days 
and there were heavy winds much of the time. It was so cold that for six 
weeks, the snow did not yield to the influence of the sun upon the roofs of 
the houses The snow became very deep. Some orchards were so buried in 
snow, that scarcely a twig was visible. The fences were all covered. The 
house of John Thompson, North of Robert Palmer's was nearly covered, and 
a passage was dug under the snow from the road to the door of the house, a 
distance of several rods. In March, the snow was four feet deep in the woods, 
and so hard that oxen could travel upon it. At the usual time of making 
sugar, the fences were buried in snow. Many sheep and some cattle had 
been buried alive. Public worship on the Sabbath was maintained, but very 
few attended besides those who went on snow shoes. The same contrivance 
for a long time furnished t!ie only means of communication between East and 
Middle street, and indeed between all the difl^erent parts of the town. These 
snow shoes were made to a considerable extent by Lieut Cyprian Collins, and 
so great was the demand for them at that time, that several old horses were 
killed, that their raw hides might be used in the manufacture. The people, 
until the snow became so solid as to bear oxen, drew their grains to mill on 
hand sleds. The little business that was done consisted chiefly in going to mill, 



68 

feeding their stock, and maintaining their fires. But few families attempted 
to drive their cattle to water ; and the cattle soon learned to supply the de- 
ficiency by eating snow. 

This state of things remained until the latter part of March, and then the 
weather became mild, the snow wasted gradually without a flood, and the 
spring opened in usual time. 

Tnis winter proved destructive to the deer in this county, for until the snow 
became so solid as to bear up deer as well as wolves and dogs, they were 
hunted and destroyed without mercy, and they never recovered from that 
slaughter. 

It may not be uninteresting to those who shall come after us to state in 
this connexion, that the winter of 1835 and 6 was an unusually hard winter. 
It set in on the 23d of Nov. 1835, and sledding and sleighing were maintained 
uninterruptedly to the 17th of April, 1836, making 147 days, or twenty-one 
weeks ! There were many days of extreme cold. On the 16th of Dec. 1835 
mercury here fell to fourteen degrees below zero, at the city of Hartford 
twenty-seven degrees below, at Woodstock Vt., to forty degrees below, and 
at Franconia, N. H., to forty degrees below, or 76 degrees below the freezing 
point. In all parts the mercury fell lower in the vallies than on the hills. 
Many of the old people who could well remember the former hard winter 
thought there were more extreme cold days in the latter than in the former, 
but the cold not so uniform, and the snow not so deep at any one time. 

Respecting Episcopalians in Goshen it may be stated ; that as early as 1767, 
and sometime afterwards, the part of the ministerial tax which was collected 
from " churchmen" was by a vote of the town annually paid over to " the 
Rev. Mr. Palmer." Whether this Mr. Palmer was a resident here is not known. 
A house of worship for persons of this denomination was erected about that 
time, at the South end of East Street grave yard ; and meetings were held in 
it with more or less of frequency for several years. This house was respectable 
in size, but was never finished within, or painted without. The Episcopalians 
as such did not flourish here, and their house becoming useless to them, was 
bargained to the North East winter parish, whither it was removed in 1793. 
It was placed on nearly the same spot where stands the present North meeting 
house, but was never fitted up for use. In the memorable storm of March, 
1796, it was blown down, and the present house was first erected not long 
afterwards. 

Respecting the Methodist Episcopal Church in this town, the following sta. 
tistics are given. 

The first sermon was by Mr. Canfield, at the house of Capt. Jabez Wright, 
on the last day of Dec. 1797. 

The first quarterly meeting was held in the barn of the said Wright, in July 
of 1798. 

The first meeting house was on the same ground as the present one, in 
Canada Village, and was built in 1809, and 1810. This was painted red. 
The present neat and commodious house was erected in 1836. 



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